LAKELAND, Fla. – Southeastern University used solid team defense to build a 13 point halftime lead and beat University of Texas at Dallas, 84-66, Tuesday afternoon at The Furnace.
After the Comets netted the opening four points, the Fire answered with the next 10 points started by Amir Brikat's first four points. Following a UTD 3-pointer, SEU added another four points and eventually built the double-digit halftime lead. Nathan Mikkelson drained an opening triple for the first points of the second half as SEU allowed UTD to get no closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
SEU broke a 3-game losing skid with the victory and improved to 4-7 on the year. The Fire made 33-of-65 field goals (50.8%) and outrebounded the Comets (5-6) by a 38-22 margin.
Of its 84-point total, SEU saw five Fire players reach double figures with Nelson Reynolds coming off the bench for 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including a trio of 3-pointers. Brikat was right behind Reynolds as he led the starting five with 14 points on 6-of-8 attempts to go with five rebounds, five steals, and a pair of assists.
Mikkelson connected for three triples as part of his 13-point afternoon, and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Both Ahmad Johnson and Derek Murphy hit for 10 points apiece. Johnson grabbed seven rebounds and had an assist, while Murphy drained a pair of treys with three rebounds and three assists.
Montrez Leah added seven points, while Kyonte Thomas chipped in five points, three boards, two assists, and two steals. Ja'Quay Randolph contributed four points, five rebounds and swiped two steals.
SEU will be right back on the court Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 18, in a 2 p.m. tip-off against Olivet Nazarene.
