LAKELAND, Fla. – Southeastern University jumped out to a lead in the first 10 minutes and never gave it up in an 80-60 victory over Webber International University in Sun Conference men's basketball Saturday evening.
Trailing 12-9 in the first first five minutes, SEU edged ahead with a seven-point run capped by a Nelson Reynolds trey. The Fire held the advantage over the Warriors for the final 34:13 of the game and finished the contest on a 10-2 run for the 20-point victory.
SEU (7-8) improved to 3-1 in the Sun Conference play and posted its seventh win in a row, fifth-straight in Lakeland, over the Warriors (3-10/0-3 Sun Conference).
The Fire hit 30 of their 62 field goals attempts and registered a perfect 12-for-12 from the line. SEU also outrebounded the Warriors, 39-28.
Ahmad Johnson paced the home effort with 23 points, shooting 8-for-10 from the field, 3-of-5 from long range and 4-for-4 from the line.
Derek Murphy was the other SEU double-figure player with 13 points to go with four assists and three rebounds. Amir Brikat, Joshua Blazquez and Diego Platas rounded out the starting five with eight points apiece. Brikat grabbed 11 rebounds, and Blazquez swiped four passes and handed out two assists.
Kyonte Thomas scored all eight of his points off the bench over a key 3-minute period in the second half where he also had five rebounds and three assists. Nathan Mikkelson added seven points, seven rebounds, two blocks and a pair of steals. Reynolds had five points and four rebounds.
Orlando Thomas led Webber International with 19 points.
At 13:36 in the second half, the Warriors cut their deficit down to a point, 47-46. Thomas had the Fire answer with back-to-back 3-pointers, a pair of Murphy free throws and a Brikat dunk to push the lead to 11, 57-46, over the next 1:32.
SEU returns to action on Wednesday, when they host No. 21 Keiser University at The Furnace. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m..
