Playing a home and away with the same team in the space of eight days presents any number of possibilities. (ESFC Image)
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Playing a home and away with the same team in the space of eight days presents any number of possibilities.
For Eastern Florida’s men’s basketball team, 18th in the latest NJCAA national rankings, Wednesday’s 7 p.m. re-match at St. Petersburg College is fraught with challenges.
After all, the Titans escaped with a 63-58 victory on Nov. 24 despite shooting poorly from the free throw and three-point lines.
The victory did increase the Titans season record to 9-1 and their home court winning streak to 52 games. But it also left Eastern Florida head coach Jeremy Shulman less than satisfied.
Jeremy Shulman
“We’ve got to play better,” Shulman said.
“Yes, we won but St. Petersburg and “Coach (Earnest) Crumbley also took a lot from the game and will certainly be ready.
“Coach Crumbley is in the state Hall of Fame for a reason. They always come to play and Wednesday it’s their turn to defend their floor.”
While the offenses struggled in the first game the defenses did their job. St. Petersburg held Eastern Florida to its lowest point total of the season while the Titans held St. Petersburg to its second-lowest output.
Beyond St. Petersburg, the Titans host TAAG Academy at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9 – admission is free – and close the semester at the Dec. 12-13 JUCO Shootout in Gainesville where they will play Gulf Coast State and Polk State respectively.
Sixth man and freshman guard Kareem Brewton leads the Titans in scoring at 14 points per game followed by classmate and guard C.J. Jackson at 13.7, sophomore forward Djordje Beronja at 13.1 and classmate and forward B.J. Gladden at 12.3.
Gladden leads in rebounding at 9.3, Jackson in assists at 5.8 and steals at 2.8.
“It’s been a team effort so far and we expect it and need it to continue to be a team effort,” Shulman said.
“The 15-game conference schedule is approaching fast and it will take everything we have.”
Eastern Florida, ranked fourth in Florida, is three-time defending Florida College System Activities Association Southern Conference champion. It competes with Indian River State, Palm Beach State, Broward College, Miami Dade College and newcomer ASA Miami.
