LAKELAND, Fla.—The Southeastern University men's basketball team outperformed Our Lady of the Lake University from start to finish, winning by a score of 110-64. Seniors Blake Morrow and Jeremy Oppenheimer fueled the Fire with 24 and 17 points, respectively.
The Saints got on the board first hitting a three, but the Fire would go on a 9-0 run and wouldn't look back. Morrow got the scoring started for Southeastern with a triple of his own. Oppenheimer got involved early as well, converting a layup and assisting an Isaiah Moody dunk. Southeastern also put together another 9-0 run, as well as a 14-0 run in the first half to take a commanding 63-29 lead into halftime.
Oppenheimer scored all 17 of his points in the first half, netting one 3-PT field goal and going 6-7 from the free-throw line. Morrow also went 6-7 from the free-throw line and scored 18 of his 24 in the first half.
Karl Jeanty and Devon Ford impressed early for the Fire. Jeanty had 11 points and six rebounds while Ford had seven points and eight rebounds. Collectively the Fire shot 55% from the field in the first half, including 40% from 3-PT range and 79.2% at the free-throw stripe.
Southeastern used its bench to finish things off for the majority of the second half, as it accounted for 33 of the 47 points the Fire totaled in the half. Freshman Reggie Mesidor led the way, netting eight of his ten total points in the half, converting on two 3-PT field goals. Malcolm Holman and Noah Wells came on to add six points of their own, each hitting one 3-PT attempt.
The Fire used their size to outscore the Saints in the paint 54-22 and used offensive rebounds to their advantage as well. Southeastern had 20 offensive rebounds leading to 28 second chance points.
Ford and Jeanty just missed double-doubles as Ford need one more point and Jeanty needed two more rebounds.
The Fire are back in action this weekend when they participate in the NAIA Division II Showcase in Kingsport, Tennessee.
