COLUMBIA, S.C. -- SEU delivered its most complete performance of the season on Saturday afternoon, erupting for a season-high 100 points in a 100–75 road victory over Columbia (S.C.). The Fire bounced back from Friday's narrow loss at Columbia International with a statement win, putting together a dominant second half to close their non-conference road trip on a high note.
From the opening tip, the game carried a fast tempo as both teams traded baskets through a tightly contested first half. Southeastern shot nearly 50 percent before intermission and built a 44–43 halftime lead behind an efficient inside attack and a steady performance at the free-throw line. While Columbia connected on 61 percent of its first-half attempts to keep pace, the Fire's balance and depth would take over once play resumed.
The second half belonged entirely to SEU. The Fire outscored the Koalas 56–32 over the final 20 minutes, breaking the game open behind relentless defensive pressure and crisp execution on offense. Southeastern shot 59 percent after the break and scored 52 points in the paint while converting 20 second-chance points on 11 offensive rebounds. Their ball control and unselfish play—11 assists and just eight turnovers—kept Columbia on its heels, and the Fire's bench added 31 points to cap a thoroughly commanding performance.
Senior guard
Mylo Santos led the charge with a masterful performance, pouring in a season-high 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting and a perfect 10-for-10 at the free-throw line. Santos scored 19 of those points in the second half, taking over with an array of drives, pull-ups, and finishes at the rim that ignited a 16–2 Fire run early in the half.
The Fire also benefited from a balanced supporting cast.
Daivion Traylor made the most of his opportunities at the stripe, going 9-for-10 on free throws to post 11 points, while
Jayson Nixon knocked down a pair of threes and added 11 of his own. Off the bench,
LaDavian King was superb, scoring 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting and distributing a team-high five assists to go with three rebounds.
Jarin Edwards continued his steady early-season play, scoring 10 points and adding a steal and assist in 28 minutes, while
Daniel Sohn provided an instant spark with 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting.
In the paint,
Nathan Mikkelson anchored the Fire defensively, grabbing a team-best eight rebounds and swatting two shots while helping limit Columbia's inside scoring to 28 points. Southeastern controlled the glass overall with a 35–26 rebounding advantage, including a decisive 24–11 margin in the second half. The Fire also forced 12 turnovers and turned those into 16 points while holding Columbia to 39 percent shooting after halftime.
The Fire now turn their attention to the start of Sun Conference competition. SEU opens league play on Saturday, November 15, traveling south to face Florida Memorial in Miami Gardens. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m., where the Fire will look to build on their offensive rhythm and carry their momentum into conference play against one of the league's most athletic squads.
