Panthers Play For Thanksgiving Tourney Title Saturday

By  //  November 29, 2014

Florida Tech remains unbeaten at 6-0

The Panthers will play Saint Augustine for the tournament championship on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at the Clemente Center. Tickets can be purchased at the Clemente Center starting at 12:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for senior citizens ages 65 and above, youth ages 5-16 and non-FIT students with school ID. FIT students with school ID, faculty and staff with school ID plus one guest, military in uniform and children ages four and under are free. One ticket is good for both games of the doubleheader. (Florida Tech, Ryan Seeloff image)
The Panthers will play Saint Augustine for the tournament championship on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at the Clemente Center. Tickets can be purchased at the Clemente Center starting at 12:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for senior citizens ages 65 and above, youth ages 5-16 and non-FIT students with school ID. FIT students with school ID, faculty and staff with school ID plus one guest, military in uniform and children ages four and under are free. One ticket is good for both games of the doubleheader. (Florida Tech, Ryan Seeloff image)

The Panthers will now play Saint Augustine’s for the tournament championship on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at the Clemente Center

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Panthers will play for the 2014 Florida Tech Thanksgiving Tournament Championship after beating Clark Atlanta 90-82 Friday night at the Clemente Center.

Florida Tech remains unbeaten at 6-0, while Clark Atlanta drops to 1-4.

Jermaine Jackson put up 29 points, 23 came in the first half, in 35 minutes. Chris Carter contributed 19 points, and Sam Daniel pitched in 11 with nine rebounds in 20 minutes.

However, the largest contribution in all phases might have come from the bench, where Randy Echols, Akeem Johnson and Isaac Spence gave the Panthers quality minutes. The three combined for 19 points, most of which came in the final seven minutes, 30 seconds of the game.

Head coach Billy Mims applauded the three after the win.

Billy Mims
Billy Mims

“If you look at our bench, Akeem Johnson was 5-for-6 at the free throw line,” said Mims.

“Randy Echols was 5-for-5, Isaac Spence was 3-for-4. It was big for those guys to come off the bench and play well for us. Between those guys, they were 13-for-15 in free throws. Late in the game, I put those guys out on the floor because I felt they were going to be solid rebounders, not turn it over, make smart plays and make free throws when they were fouled. All in all, I was very, very pleased with the total team effort from our starting lineup and bench.”

Akeem-Johnson-180-12
Akeem Johnson was big for the Panthers off the bench on Friday. (Florida tech image)

The Panthers will now play Saint Augustine’s for the tournament championship on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at the Clemente Center.

The Falcons beat Clayton State 73-68 in game one on Friday. Raheem Jolliffe poured in 30 points in the win. Clark Atlanta and Clayton State will square off in the consolation game at 2 p.m.

Tickets for Saturday can be purchased at the Clemente Center starting at 12:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for senior citizens ages 65 and above, youth ages 5-16 and non-FIT students with school ID.

FIT students with school ID, faculty and staff with school ID plus one guest, military in uniform and children ages four and under are free. One ticket is good for both games of the doubleheader.

Live video, audio and stats will be available for both games at FloridaTechSports.com/live