LAKELAND, Fla. – The Fire won back-to-back games for the first time this season, using a strong second-half run and holding on in the final minutes of a 78-74 men's basketball win over Olivet Nazarene University.
Trailing 35-33 at the half, SEU scored the first six points of the second 20 minutes, edged ahead, 39-35, and never trailed again. The Fire's second-half start went to a 15-2 run over the first 4:05 and a 48-37 lead. SEU pushed their advantage to as many as 14 points, 66-52, and maintained a 72-61 lead at 3:48 left. Olivet Nazarene scored the next seven points, posted a 13-5 run, and made it a one-possession game, 77-74, with two ticks left. Joshua Blazquez sealed the home win with a free throw.
In the game-deciding second half, SEU shot at a 57% clip (17-of-30 field goals), up 20% from the first half, and made 4-of-7 from long range.
Ahmad Johnson guided the Fire's offensive effort with 23 points, which included seven-straight points as the final points of the 15-2 second-half starting run. Johnson made 8-of-15 shots with a pair of treys and all five of his free throws. The senior guard also pulled down two rebounds to go with an assist and a steal.
Amir Brikat scored six of his 12 points as the home team's first three buckets on 5-of-6 shooting and had three steals. Off the bench, Diego Platas connected on six of his 10 attempts from the floor for 12 points, six boards, two assists and two steals. Nelson Reynolds scored 11 points, including a trio of treys. Nathan Mikkelson and Derek Murphy combined for 13 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a blocked shot.
Eli Edwards paced Olivet Nazarene with a double-double of 23 points and 13 rebounds.
Brikat pushed SEU ahead in the opening moments for all six of the Fire's 6-2 lead. SEU took the margin up to 10 points, 23-13, midway into the half and up to a dozen, 27-15, at 8:17. The Tigers rallied with the ensuing nine points and made it an 18-2 complete run for a new-found 33-29 lead over a six-minute stretch. The visitors kept the edge, 35-33, at intermission.
SEU will have a day off before they host Johnson University on Friday in their final game before Christmas. Tip off is at 2 p.m..
