WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Fire are saving their best basketball for when it counts the most. Southeastern University answered every surge, led wire-to-wire, and upset top-seed Keiser University, 96-87, in the Sun Conference Men's Basketball Tournament semifinals.
Behind his season-best 26-point effort guiding the way, Derek Murphy netted the night's opening bucket 43 seconds in, downed a trey for the seventh Fire point in a row and added a pair of triples for a 15-6 SEU outburst to start the game. The Seahawks tied the game three times and each time the Fire answered with the next points on the scoreboard. The third time Keiser tied the affair, 74-74, with 6:38 left, SEU responded with four-straight buckets started by a Matthew Lentz dunk and Ahmad Johnson connecting on back-to-back 3-pointers ending a 14-4 run over 4:03 off the late-game clock to clinch the game.
After dropping their two regular season contests to Keiser, SEU finally found the consistency they lacked in the previous two meetings. The Fire fell in the Sun Conference first round last spring, but they now return to the championship game on Saturday afternoon. SEU aims for a repeat of its win over St. Thomas in the 2023 title game (70-62).
With the victory, SEU ties its win total from last year, improving to 14-16.
The SEU win was its first against Keiser in five games and first victory in West Palm Beach since an 87-64 final on January 14, 2023.
SEU used efficient shooting for the entire night. The Fire came out and made 20-of-32 field goals (.625) and 9-of-15 from beyond the arc in the first half. On the night, SEU hit 36-of-61 of their total shots (.590) and 15 out of 29 from 3-point range (.517).
Both with season-highs in points, Murphy and Kyonte Thomas combined for 45 of the Fire's 96 total points on 14-of-21 shooting. Murphy drained a season-high six treys in eight shots, 9-of-12 shots overall and both free throws for 26 points to go with five rebounds and a pair of assists.
Thomas was right with him with his own season-best 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting and a pair of treys, while he dished out eight assists.
Nathan Mikkelson and Nelson Reynolds added a total of 25 points and five 3-pointers between them. Mikkelson chipped in 14 points on 6-of-8 tries, and Reynolds made a trio of 3-pointers for 11 points. With his highest point total since returning to the lineup. Johnson provided eight points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Amir Brikat added eight points and three boards, while Diego Platas contributed six points, six rebounds and three assists. Rounding out the night, Lentz had four points and Joshua Blazquez pulled down five rebounds.
Calvin Sirmans pumped in 24 points for the Seahawks.
The Fire return to action tomorrow night when they face second-seeded Ave Maria University for the Sun Conference Championship. Tip-off is at 5 p.m..
