Titan’s Basketball Win Gives Shulman 100th Victory

By  //  December 7, 2014

joined Eastern Florida State in 2010

Coach Jeremy Shulman joined Eastern Florida in 2010 and has revitalized the program. Eastern Florida State College’s men’s basketball team held off scrappy Florida State College Jacksonville 76-59 on Saturday in Melbourne to give Shulman his 100th victory with the Titans. (Eastern Florida image)
Coach Jeremy Shulman joined Eastern Florida in 2010 and has revitalized the program. Eastern Florida State College’s men’s basketball team held off scrappy Florida State College Jacksonville 76-59 on Saturday in Melbourne to give Shulman his 100th victory with the Titans. (Eastern Florida image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — Eastern Florida State College’s men’s basketball team held off scrappy Florida State College Jacksonville 76-59 on Saturday in Melbourne to give head coach Jeremy Shulman his 100th victory with the Titans.

The victory in the Titans Winter Classic also improved EFSC’s home court winning streak to 37 games, moved its win streak to seven games and its season record to 11-1.

The victory didn’t come without some struggles. FSCJ, which lost 97-55 to the Titans on Nov. 24 in Jacksonville, came out determined and led 20-16 with 9 minutes and 49 seconds to play in the first half.

But the Titans closed the half with a 26-9 run for a 42-29 lead. The run was fueled in part by three steals in four possessions that led to points.

FSCJ made it 42-31 at the start of the second half but got no closer as the Titans continued to play strong defense and executed on offense.

Sophomore Demetrius McReynolds led EFSC with 20 points. Classmates Jermohn Queen and Payton Hulsey added 16 and 15 points respectively and freshman Djordje Beronja added 12.

Demetrius McReynolds
Demetrius McReynolds

“I was feeling it,” McReynolds said.

“My teammates were finding me in the right spot and they got me going early.”

Twelve of McReynolds points came in the first half.

“It just carried over for the rest of the game,” McReynolds added.

As for Shulman’s landmark victory: “It’s big time right there,” McReynolds said. “I’m proud of coach. I’m proud of what he’s accomplished. He gets the best out of his players.”

And, Shulman also got the best out of his defense which nine times this season has held opponents to 59 points or less.

Jermohn Queen
Jermohn Queen

Queen acknowledged that.

“We just practice defense, defense, defense,” Queen said.

“That’s where we get out points. We know we’ve got a good team and a good system and we can score the ball. So we just play defense. We know if we can play defense we can win.”
Shulman gave credit to this players.

“I’m proud of my guys for responding,” he said. “This was a much better win for us than a lot of the 30- and 40-point wins we’ve had. This was a battle from start to finish.

Jeremy Shulman
Jeremy Shulman

“We knew we had to play every possession against a very worthy opponent. I love the way our guys responded. I thought it was a tough and physical game. Overall the toughness our guys showed. It’s a testament to (team motto) players play, tough guys win.”

As for the 100th victory, the home court streak and the season record so far: “It feels good,” Shulman said. “I hope 11-1 balloons to a lot higher and I hope 100 blossoms a lot higher than 100.”

The Titans conclude the pre-holiday portion of their home schedule by hosting ASA Miami at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Admission is free.

EFSC beat ASA Miami 105-42 on Nov. 4 in Melbourne.

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EFSC then travels to Ocala for two high-profile games, playing Gulf Coast State at noon on Saturday, Dec. 13 and Tallahassee Community College at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, both games part of the Florida College Shootout at the College of Central Florida.

TCC was ranked second in Florida in the latest FCSAA coaches’ poll and 14 in the nation.

The Titans are then off until Dec. 31 when they host Shelton State of Alabama at 4 p.m.