LAKELAND, Fla.—A win is a win. Especially in a league like The Sun Conference this season.
The Southeastern University men's basketball team had a 17-point lead evaporate, and survived two game-winning shot attempts and a game-tying shot attempts to knock off Florida Memorial 91-89.
Jake Hodges was the key to Southeastern (14-6, 4-3 TSC) getting going early on, finishing with a game-high 27 points, and surpassing 1,000 points for his career with a free throw with 6:23 to go in the second, which put the Fire up 77-65.
The Lions answered with an 11-4 run to make it a five-point game with 4:11 to go. With just 2:50 remaining, Florida Memorial (8-10, 3-4 TSC) made it a two-point game, thanks to a 3-pointer by Deotre Dixon.
Southeastern was able to convert all four of its free throw attempts in the final two minutes to keep the Lions at bay.
Hodges scored 17 points within the first 10 minutes of the game, draining his first four 3-point attempts of the night. His total helped SEU shoot 58% from beyond the arc in the first half, connecting on 10 3-total 3's, and held a 48-39 advantage at the intermission.
The Lions used their height advantage in the second half, attacking the rim from the lane, and shooting nearly 52% from the field in the second 20 minutes. FMU totaled seven second half 3's to help cut the gap.
Senior
Larry Taylor added 21 points, five rebounds, five assists, a block, and two steals to the winning effort. Taylor converted on 10 of his 12 free throw attempts.
Caleb Konieczny added 17 points, six rebounds and two steals, and
Matt Crowe added 13 points.
Hodges also chipped in on the glass, snagging six boards to tie Konieczny for the team lead.
The Fire have now won four straight, and will host Johnson and Wales on Saturday at 4 p.m.
