Three Panther Players Score in Double Figures to Overcome Lynn in OT 56-52

BOCA RATON, Fla. (men’s basketball) – For the first time this basketball season, the Florida Tech Men and Women basketball teams sweep their opponent. The
women defeated the Fighting Knights by a score of 68-59 while the men defeated Lynn in OT with a score of 56-52 to break a five game losing streak and
earning their second SSC win of the year (6-16, 2-8SSC).

In the first match up against the two teams, Lynn took the game by 14 with a score of 71-57. The Panthers coming into this game looked to get revenge
against the Knights and also put the disappointing loss against Tampa behind them. Right from the start, the Panthers played with heart and shear
determination to not let the game get away from them.

Starting junior point guard E.J. Murray (Rockledge, Fla.) started the scoring off with a three pointer off the jump ball with Lynn answering quickly back
with a short jumper. Knowing the game was going to be tough, Tech exchanged buckets with Lynn for 18 minutes of the first half. Late in the first half and
less than five minutes before intermission, Tech showed a seven point lead at 22-15 but the Knights quickly shortened the gap and took a one point lead
going into the break; 25-24.

Both sides played solid defense as both defenses barely aloud any second chance opportunities at the basket. The crimson and grey out rebounded the Knights
22 to 17 in the half and since both offensives stared at zone defensives, neither team shot the ball predominantly well; Tech both shot 33.3% from the
field and from beyond the arc while Lynn shot a tad bit better shooting 34.6% from the field and 37.5% from three point range. Despite the low scoring
half, the lead changed hands nine times and no team had more than a five point lead during the half.

Out of the break, Tech didn’t look cooled down at all, battling hard and determined to stay focused, the Panthers rallied on a 14-2 run to take an eight
point advantage with 12:12 left in regulation. As the crowd calmed down and the Panther bench in an uproar, the Panthers maintained a comfortable lead
until the 5:36 mark. With time running out on Lynn, the Knights fought back quieting the Panther bench and awaking their home crowd as they pushed forward
to go on a 11-5 run to tie the game up at 47-47 and take the game into overtime.

If the regulation game wasn’t enough excitement, the two teams battled it out in OT but not without some sort of pause or dilemma. As Justin Sedlak
(Pezinik, Slovakia) hit a three pointer seconds into the OT, the Panther bench awakened yet again to help push a 54-49 lead after two made free throws from
Carl McNally (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) with 1:10 on the clock. After a 15 minute delay due to the automatic ceiling lights going dim, play got underway with just
over a minute to play and the score marked at 54-49. As soon as that whistle had blown, Lynn seconds later sank a three pointer to be down by one basket
54-52. With the possession back in the hands of Florida Tech, the game was surely over with less than 45seconds to play. Sedlak after being fouled missed
on the opportunity at the free throw line and turned the ball over after the second missed free throw. Now possession to the Knights and Tech pressing ¾’s
court, Jod Kelley (McCormick, S.C.) got his biggest deflection on the night tipping it to Murray who got fouled and earned two at the free throw line.
Stepping to the free throw line and the score still marked at 54-52, Murray who respectively started the game, ended the game as he sealed the victory for
the Panthers hitting both free throws making the game a two possession game with seconds left on the clock. Tech was victorious with a final OT score of
56-52 over Lynn University.

Three Tech players scored in double figures to secure the victory over the Knights. E.J. Murray had the game and team high of 16 points with 7 assists on
the night. Jod Kelley notched 15 points while defending the net swatting away 5 shots on the night. The third player in double figures was Justin Sedlak
who scored 12 points and grabbed 6 boards. Playing one of his best games of the year was Janko Mrksic (Stoney Creek, Ontario) despite scoring only 4 points
grabbed a season high of 14 rebounds while blocking 2 shots. Carl McNally who has been suffering an injury for most the year had a strong night off the
bench with 7 points and 3 steals; McNally came up clutch towards the end of regulation and in OT hitting all 5 of his free throws in the game.

The victory marks head coach Billy Mims first win over Lynn in the two years at Florida Tech and puts the Panthers at 6-16 overall and 2-8 in the SSC. Head
Coach Billy Mims and his players are back at home on Saturday, February 3rd as they face Florida Southern College with a tip time approximately around 4
pm.

Newspaper Box Score
Florida Tech vs Lynn University
01/31/07 7:30 p.m. at Boca Raton, Fla. (de Hoernle Center)
At Boca Raton, Fla. (de Hoernle Center)
FLORIDA TECH 56, LYNN UNIVERSITY 52
FLORIDA TECH (6-16, 2-8 SSC)
MURRAY, EJ 4-13 5-7 16; KELLEY, Jod 6-14 2-3 15; SEDLAK, Justin 5-13 0-1 12;
McNALLY, Carl 1-2 5-5 7; MRKSIC, Janko 2-8 0-4 4; RICHARDSON, Arthur 1-3 0-0
2; PAROTTE, Edmond 0-0 0-0 0; CLARK, Damien 0-1 0-0 0; WOODSON, Donovan 0-0
0-0 0; ZELLER, Sean 0-1 0-0 0; BALLARD, Ryan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-55 12-20
56.
LYNN UNIVERSITY (13-7, 5-4 SSC)
COHN, Evan 3-14 0-0 9; KIRKWOOD, Darnell 2-6 4-5 8; SCHUR, Hans 3-8 2-2 8;
MCDUFFUS, Jasper 3-6 2-2 8; SMITH, Andrew 3-16 0-1 7; POSTORINO, Luke 2-5
0-0 6; MILLARD, Ed 0-3 3-4 3; FALEY, Jeremy 1-1 0-0 3; EMMONS, Tyler 0-0 0-0
0. Totals 17-59 11-14 52.
Florida Tech……………… 24 23 9 – 56
Lynn University…………… 25 22 5 – 52
3-point goals–Florida Tech 6-20 (MURRAY, EJ 3-8; SEDLAK, Justin 2-5;
KELLEY, Jod 1-5; RICHARDSON, Arthur 0-1; ZELLER, Sean 0-1), Lynn University
7-26 (COHN, Evan 3-13; POSTORINO, Luke 2-4; SMITH, Andrew 1-8; FALEY, Jeremy
1-1). Fouled out–Florida Tech-MRKSIC, Janko, Lynn University-None.
Rebounds–Florida Tech 44 (MRKSIC, Janko 14), Lynn University 39 (MCDUFFUS,
Jasper 9). Assists–Florida Tech 12 (MURRAY, EJ 7), Lynn University 14
(POSTORINO, Luke 5). Total fouls–Florida Tech 15, Lynn University 18.
Technical fouls–Florida Tech-None, Lynn University-None. A-498
ID-514590