LISTEN: Panthers Take On Flagler At 7 p.m. Tonight
By Florida Tech Athletic Communications // December 15, 2014
First of Five Away From the Clemente Center
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO AUDIO LIVESTREAM
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Following a week off for final exams, Florida Tech (7-1) jumps back into its schedule on Monday at 7 p.m. at Flagler (5-1). The game against the Saints is the first of five away from the Clemente Center.
The Panthers, ranked 25th in NCAA Division II at the time, dropped their first game of the season in their Sunshine State Conference opener on Dec. 6 versus Eckerd, 78-70.
FIT’s second unit of Patrick Anderson, Randy Echols, Akeem Johnson,Isaac Spence and Caleb Wigginton scored 53 points and committed just five turnovers in an average of 25 minutes played. Johnson notched his first double-double of his two-year Panther career, scoring 17 points with 11 rebounds.
Eckerd led by as many as 17 points with 15:48 left in the second half. Mims took out his starters and subbed in his second unit. They cut their deficit to four points two times in the final 5:06. However, they could not overcome the Tritons by the time the buzzer sounded.
Jermaine Jackson (16.5 ppg), Corbin Jackson (15.0 ppg), Jordan Majors (12.0 ppg) and Chris Carter (11.1 ppg) enter the game averaging double figures in points for FIT. Corbin Jackson is the team’s leading rebounder at 9.5 boards per game.
He ranked second in NCAA Division II as of Dec. 11 with 30 blocks and third with 3.7 blocks per game.
While the Panthers will play just their second road game of the season, the Saints are 5-0 this season at Flagler Gymnasium. Three of those wins have come against NCAA Division II opponents Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras (90-87), Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (82-80) and Saint Leo (59-51).
Monday’s game against FIT is the Saints’ final tune up before Peach Belt Conference play begins on Thursday.
Flagler was dealt its first loss at Palm Beach Atlantic on Dec. 3, 70-67. Jerrell Oxendine collected a game-high 20 points, but the Sailfish rallied behind 42 second-half points. Matt Clark, son of 29th-year head coach Bo Clark, scored 16 points off the bench. All four of his field goals came from the three-point line, where he finished 4-of-7.
Oxendine is the Saints’ leader in scoring at 17.5 points per game. Also averaging double figures are Lydell Manigo (15.2 ppg), Dennis Diaz (11.3 ppg) and Clark (10.7 ppg).
De’Aires Tate (8.7 rpg) and Desmond Gibson (8.5 rpg) are the team’s top two rebounders.
The Panthers are shooting a very respectable 52.4-percent from the field. Their three-point defense will be tested as the Saints are connecting on 41.0-percent of their attempts from the arc.
Flagler will provide live video and stats with the links available at FloridaTechSports.com. Jim Mitchell will broadcast the game for FIT at FloridaTechSports.com/live.
