Florida Tech Mens Basketball Beats Nova

By  //  January 24, 2014

panthers improve to 13-4

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — The size advantage was all Florida Tech’s (13-4, 3-3 SSC) as its bigs created a huge mismatch on both ends of the floor.

Jermaine Jackson finished with a career-high 38 points as the Panthers improved to 3-3 in conference play. (Florida Tech image)
Jermaine Jackson finished with a career-high 38 points as the Panthers improved to 3-3 in conference play. (Florida Tech image)

Despite the height differential, Nova Southeastern University (6-11, 3-3 SSC) was lights out from three-point range, going 48 percent from beyond-the-arc. However, Jermaine Jackson’s career night and David Usic’s first double-double of the season were enough to propel the Panthers past the Sharks, 97-86, on Wednesday evening at the Clemente Center.

Jermaine Jackson’s 38 points on 14-of-21 from the field and 7-of-13 from long distance was the most points scored by an FIT player since Nov. 16, 2009 when Justin Sadlock scored 38 points against the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez.

Chris Carter
Chris Carter

Florida Tech’s efficiency was the factor in the victory as the Panthers shot 61 percent from the floor and 54 percent from three-point range. Three Panthers joined Jermaine Jackson in double figures, Usic (14 points, six rebounds), Chris Carter (12 points, nine assists) and Corbin Jackson (13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks).

FIT outscored the Sharks 46-10 in the paint and did not trail for the final 38 minutes of the contest.

Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine Jackson

“We executed coach’s game plan,” said Jermaine Jackson. “If I was open, I was going to shoot. 38 points is great but the winning the game feels even better. We needed to win this one and we played as a unit tonight and found the open man. We shot the ball well and hopefully we can continue to do that on Saturday versus Eckerd.”

Nova Southeastern was 21-of-44 from long distance and had four players reach double figures, led by Maurice Fuller’s 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting (all three-pointers).

With the victory, the Panthers improved to 3-3 in Sunshine State Conference action and NSU fell to 3-3. Akeem Johnson dished out a game-high 10 assists and pulled down seven rebounds to go with his eight points.

PANTHERS HOST ECKERD SATURDAY AT EFSC

Offense shined in the first half, with the Panthers going 57 percent from the field. However, the three-point shooting of the Sharks allowed NSU to cut its deficit as FIT headed in the second frame with a 43-37 advantage. Jermaine Jackson and Usic provided much of the offense, with 14 points and 10 points, respectively.

Florida Tech outrebounded Nova Southeastern 22-11 in the opening half but turned the ball over 11 time

 “If I was open, I was going to shoot. 38 points is great but the winning the game feels even better. We needed to win this one and we played as a unit tonight and found the open man. We shot the ball well and hopefully we can continue to do that on Saturday versus Eckerd.” — Jermaine Jackson

florida_tech_logoAfter trading triples in the second half, the Panthers broke away and took a double digit lead to put the game out of reach for the Sharks in the final six minutes. Jermaine Jackson scored 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting (5-of-7 from long distance) in the half while Johnson scored eight points and distibuted seven assists.

NSU concludes the 2013-14 regular season 0-3 at the Clemente Center after falling to Paine College and Claflin University in early Nov.

PANTHERS TO PLAY ECKERD AT TITAN COLISEUM

The Panthers host Eckerd College on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Eastern Florida State College’s Titan Coliseum. Saturday marks the annual “Coaches vs. Cancer” slate, where coaches and staff throughout the nation wear sneakers in support of and to raise awareness for the American Cancer Society.

Attendance will be free of charge for both the men’s and women’s games on Saturday.