Florida Memorial Returns to FSC Men's Basketball Tournament Title Game For Second Consecutive Year With 87-79 Win Against Warner Southern
by Jamie Joss, FSC Director of Sports Information
2/24/2007
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Entering the Florida Sun Conference Men's Basketball Tournament semifinals, it would be no surprise to see any one of the of the four teams in the championship on Monday evening. In the No. 2 Warner Southern/No. 3 Florida Memorial matchup, the teams traded blows early and often like a heavyweight prized fight. In the end it was too many Florida Memorial body blows as they surged out to a 12-point advantage at the 4:12 mark and cruised to an 87-79 victory over the Royals.
Florida Sun Conference Player of the Year Tramaine Stevens, who entered the game leading the nation in points per game (26.8), was the primary puncher in tonight's bout delivering 29 points and 14 rebounds (six offensive). Andre Thomas added a double-double with 20 points and 10 boards and All-FSC team selection Daniel Garcia chipped in 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists and five steals.
The Lions (13-13) return to the FSC Tournament title game for the second consecutive year and will await the winner of the No. 1 Northwood (Fla.) University and No. 4 Embry-Riddle University semifinal game set to tip-off at 8:30 p.m. In 2006, the Lions fell to Embry-Riddle in the championship game 68-55 in Daytona Beach.
The first half was as close as it could get with five ties and five lead changes, and neither team really gained the upperhand. Warner Southern (19-11) led by four points twice at the 10:19 mark 16-12 and 6:23 mark 26-22. Florida Memorial built their largest lead of the opening half 51 seconds before the intermission with a 37-31 advantage, only to see the Royals score the last four points to pull within one at 37-36 at the break.
The second half started out in the same fashion as both teams traded punches in the first 12 minutes of the half. However, with Florida Memorial leading 63-61 with 8:15 to go, the Lions had finally worn down Warner Southern and went on an 11-1 run to build their largest lead of the night 74-62 at the 4:12 mark. Josiah Perkins had four of the Lions 11 points in the run.
Warner Southern mounted a charge cutting the deficit to six points with 1:29 to go, but Stevens converted 3-of-4 from the charity stripe on the next two possessions to rebuild a comfortable nine-point cushion 81-72 with 57 ticks left. The Royals trimmed the margin to six twice in the final 20 seconds, but that was as close as they would come.
The Royals had three players in double-figures led by All-FSC selection Brandon Hamilton with 18 points, FSC Freshman of the Year Alex Castillo added 15 points and Chris Brach chipped in 11.
