Panthers Downed by Lions in SSC Play

ST. LEO, Fla. (men’s basketball) – After earning their first SSC win of the year, the Panthers took a step backwards in the conference after being out
clawed at the end of the game by the Lions 73-70.

Despite three Panther players scoring in double figures, Tech couldn’t put the entire package together as they battled the entire game climbing the ladder
to get back into the game against the Lions. Going down early by eight, the Panthers fought back getting with three but then quickly went down by ten at
24-14 around the ten minute mark.

Holding their ground, Tech got within four off a momentum swinging dunk at the five minute mark by junior Jod Kelley (McCormick, S.C.) who finished with a
game tying high of 13 points but Tech couldn’t hold off the relentless Lions as Saint Leo rallied back taking their lead back to seven at 41-34 going into
halftime.

Starting the second half like the first half, the Panthers had to climb their way back into the game as they battled a ten point deficit with 15:37 left on
the clock. Never letting up, the crimson and grey went on a 12-3 run which brought them within one at 51-50 and 11:48 left on the clock. Over the next five
minutes, the Panthers stayed within a bucket or two but couldn’t take over the lead. As the clock clicked down from the 6:22 mark, the Lions pushed again
to a ten point lead. With time winding down on the Panthers, Tech finished out the game going on an 11-4 run to get within three 73-70 but couldn’t finish
on their opportunities as the game ended with a 73-70 loss to the Lions.

Scoring wasn’t a problem for the Panthers as point guard, E.J. Murray (Rockledge, Fla.) and Kelley had a game high of 13 points apiece while Janko Mrksic
(Stoney Creek, Ontario) had one of his best games on the year with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Arthur Richardson (Niceville, Fla.) and Carl
McNally (Cocoa Beach, Fla.) scored 8 points apiece; Richardson also grabbed a game high of 8 rebounds on the night. Reservists, Justin Sedlak (Pezinik,
Slovakia) and Donovan Woodson (Fort Washington, MD) combined for 17 points; 7 and 9 respectively. Sedlak also grabbed 7 boards and recorded 2 blocks.

Tech falls to 5-12 overall and 1-4 in the SSC and next host Barry University on Wednesday, January 17th at 7:30 pm in the Clemente Center.

Newspaper Box Score
Florida Tech vs Saint Leo
01/13/07 4:00 pm at St. Leo, Fla. (Marion Bowman Center)
At St. Leo, Fla. (Marion Bowman Center)
SAINT LEO 73, FLORIDA TECH 70
FLORIDA TECH (5-12, 1-4)
KELLEY, Jod 6-12 0-0 13; MURRAY, EJ 4-12 3-4 13; MRKSIC, Janko 5-8 2-2 12;
WOODSON, Donovan 3-7 3-4 9; McNALLY, Carl 3-4 0-0 8; RICHARDSON, Arthur 2-5
3-4 8; SEDLAK, Justin 3-7 0-3 7; BALLARD, Ryan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-55 11-17
70.
SAINT LEO (8-6, 2-2)
PRAIS, Jordan 4-6 3-3 11; FRAZIER, Alleo 4-7 0-0 11; BLUE, Richard 3-8 2-6
10; SHARPER, Eric 5-7 0-0 10; ROWLAND, Kyle 3-6 3-6 9; BANKS, Jonathan 2-7
4-8 9; DEWBERRY, Saladeem 3-5 1-2 7; CULLOP, Quentin 3-8 0-0 6; KAISER,
Thomas 0-0 0-0 0; TURNER, J.J. 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 27-56 13-25 73.
Florida Tech……………… 34 36 – 70
Saint Leo………………… 41 32 – 73
3-point goals–Florida Tech 7-20 (McNALLY, Carl 2-3; MURRAY, EJ 2-8; KELLEY,
Jod 1-2; RICHARDSON, Arthur 1-2; SEDLAK, Justin 1-3; WOODSON, Donovan 0-2),
Saint Leo 6-13 (FRAZIER, Alleo 3-4; BLUE, Richard 2-3; BANKS, Jonathan 1-1;
CULLOP, Quentin 0-3; TURNER, J.J. 0-2). Fouled out–Florida Tech-None, Saint
Leo-PRAIS, Jordan. Rebounds–Florida Tech 34 (RICHARDSON, Arthur 8), Saint
Leo 32 (ROWLAND, Kyle 5; DEWBERRY, Saladeem 5). Assists–Florida Tech 17
(McNALLY, Carl 6), Saint Leo 15 (CULLOP, Quentin 7). Total fouls–Florida
Tech 16, Saint Leo 17. Technical fouls–Florida Tech-None, Saint Leo-PRAIS,
Jordan. A-431
A flagarant technical foul on St. Leo #20; ejected from game.