LAKELAND, Fla. – Third-seeded Southeastern opened Sun Conference Championship play with a commanding 96-52 victory over sixth-seeded Webber International on Tuesday night at The Furnace.
SEU established control early and never allowed the Warriors to settle in offensively. The Fire held Webber to just 10 points over the first 17 minutes of the contest, setting the tone with defensive pressure and efficient scoring in transition. By halftime, Southeastern had built a 45-17 lead, fueled by its ability to convert turnovers into points.
At the break, the Fire had already scored 16 fast break points, just one fewer than Webber's entire first-half total. Southeastern shot over 50 percent from the floor in the opening 20 minutes while limiting the Warriors to under 25 percent shooting. Webber struggled to find rhythm from the perimeter and was repeatedly forced into contested attempts late in the shot clock.
Anthony Kangah led all scorers with 25 points, knocking down six three-pointers and providing consistent offensive production on the wing.
Nathan Mikkelson added 20 points on an efficient 9-of-12 shooting performance and finished just shy of a double-double with nine rebounds. His presence inside helped Southeastern control the paint and dictate the tempo.
Daivion Traylor contributed 13 points and nine rebounds, impacting the game on both ends of the floor.
Mylo Santos added 11 points and four assists, while
Jayson Nixon directed the offense with eight assists and three steals. Southeastern assisted on 20 of its 37 made field goals, reflecting balanced ball movement throughout the night.
The Fire's defensive intensity remained steady in the second half. Southeastern held Webber to 29.8 percent shooting for the game and just 4-of-21 from three-point range.
Southeastern dominated the glass, outrebounding Webber 50-26 and creating multiple second-chance opportunities. The Fire also outscored the Warriors 52-12 in the paint and added 18 total fast break points. As the margin widened, Southeastern's depth allowed the team to maintain pace and pressure, with the bench contributing 20 points.
The Fire shot 54.4 percent from the field overall and 37.9 percent from beyond the arc, including an 8-of-16 effort from three-point range in the second half. Their largest lead reached 45 points in the final minute.
Webber International was led by Landon Tillman's 13 points and Johnny Torrence Jr.'s 11, but the Warriors were unable to generate consistent offense against Southeastern's length and defensive pressure.
With the opening-round win secured, Southeastern now shifts its focus to Friday's semifinal matchup against Ave Maria. The contest is scheduled for 4 p.m. in West Palm Beach, with a berth in the Sun Conference Championship game on the line.
