Florida Tech Falls 77-67 in SSC Action Against Saint Leo

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Despite a tough loss by the Panthers, sophomore Jod Kelley (McCormick, SC) sported his first career double-double with eleven points and
an impressive 12 rebounds losing 77-67 to the Saint Leo Lions (5-11, 1-4). Florida Tech (3-13, 0-5) gave the Lions’ their first league win with both teams
sporting four players scoring in double figures in Sunshine State Conference action Saturday afternoon at the Clemente Center.

The game was a hard fought battle between the two teams with Tech coming back eight times trying to regain the lead only to fall short in the final minutes
of action. Shooting won the Lions’ their victory hitting 52.0% from the field while the Panthers could only manage 37.3% for the game.

Saint Leo was the leader at the half heading into the break with a nine point lead 41-32. Both teams faired well from the line, at the half they both were
perfect and Tech finished 84.2% going 16-for-19 while the Lions’ were close behind at 81.0% hitting 17-for-21.

Starters’ senior center Brandon Lyngse (Boca Raton, Fla.) and junior guard Richard Blue (Miami, Fla.) led the way for Saint Leo each notching 13 points for
contest. Two other Lions netted double figures fellow starter junior George Eshesimua (Miami, Fla.) added 12 points and team high seven rebounds. Coming
off the bench, J.J. Turner (East Aurora, Ill.) rounded off the scoring with 10 points.

Tonight senior guard Ryan Maultsby (Vero Beach, Fla.) hit his stride, after coming back from an injury that had him sitting for re than six weeks. Maultsby
had slowly been worked back into the line-up after the past three games, but hitting the game high 22 points for the Panthers was where Maultsby was before
the injury when he was still leading the conference.

Despite one player returning, Tech was still hurting due to injuries with Vainauskas again sitting out the game. Junior forward Damian Clark (Orange Park,
Fla.) grabbed his season high with 12 points while sophomore E.J. Murray (Rockledge, Fla.) pitched in 10 points.

Florida Tech will host Eckerd College in an SSC doubleheader Wednesday, January 18. Action will begin with the women’s game at 5:30 p.m., while the men’s
contest will follow at approximately 7:30 p.m.