Men's Basketball (13-10, 5-5 SUN) heads into this week after splitting the contests between Keiser University on Wednesday and Webber International on Saturday.
In the match versus Keiser the Fire took a 37-36 lead into halftime, and in the second half struggled to find anything from the floor, only scoring 20 more points 17 minutes into the second half. The Fire got down by as much as 17 with two minutes left, that was when chaos started to ensue. A wild defensive effort and several clutch three pointers brought the game within two with 15 seconds left. The Fire would have a chance to tie, but the 12-0 last minute run ended on a missed contested layup as time expired resulting in a 78-76 loss for the Fire.
Reggie Mesidor had 22 in the contest to lead the way.
On Saturday the Fire paid a visit to the Webber International Warriors, the Warriors were coming off two one-point victories and a comeback win over Keiser. Despite early game struggles, the Fire would use a balanced scoring attack with five players in double digits, with
Makai Vassell the highest scorer adding 17 off the bench. Webber made some late baskets but the Fire prevailed taking home a much needed 77-74 Sun Conference victory.
The Fire are led on offense by graduate guard Mesidor who puts out 16.4 points per game. He is followed closely by Vassell who averages 14, and
Joshua Blazquez averages 11.8 per game. As a team, Southeastern scores 76.3 points per game, passing well assisting 13.1 times per game, a category in which Mesidor also leads with 3.6 per game.
Defensively, the Fire hold teams to 73.3 points per contest forcing 11 turnovers and scoring 12 points off of those turnovers. Mesidor contributes nearly two steals per game and Vassell averages 7.3 rebounds per game, while
Anthony Duncan protects the rim averaging just over one block per game.
On Wednesday the Fire look to avenge an early season overtime loss to the St. Thomas Bobcats (17-6, 7-3), a game in which the Fire held a five-point lead with under a minute to go, eventually falling in overtime 79-75. The Bobcats are led this season by Milton Matthews who averages 19.2 points per game, he is followed closely by Josh Taylor who averages 16.8 points per game. The Bobcats as a team average 79 points, and hold teams to an average of 71 points. St. Thomas comes into this matchup off of a 90-57 road win over #16 Florida Memorial l and a 72-58 victory over Warner.
On Saturday, the Fire travel up Brunswick, Ga. to take on the College of Coastal Georgia Mariners. In the earlier season matchup in The Furnace, the Fire held on to win a double overtime contest, and the Mariners. This season the Mariners are led by senior guard Nick Jiles who averages 17 points per game on 41 percent shooting. The Mariners have three other scorers in double digits, and as a team they put out 74 points per game while allowing 77. Layton Veon is averaging just over eight rebounds per contest and Jiles also leads the team in steals with 35 total. The Fire lead this all time matchup 10-5.
The Fire will tip off from home on Wednesday versus the Bobcats at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday the game begins in Brunswick at 4 p.m.
You can purchase tickets
HERE
