MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Southeastern earned a 92–68 road win over St. Thomas on Tuesday night in Miami Gardens, reaching the 20-win mark for the first time since 2022-23 and just the seventh time in the past 16 seasons. The result also ensures the Fire will host, at minimum, a first-round game in the upcoming conference tournament.
From the opening tip, Southeastern controlled the tempo and dictated the game on both ends of the floor. The Fire shot a blistering 60 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from three-point range, knocking down 10-of-15 from beyond the arc while also converting 16-of-22 at the free throw line. That efficiency allowed SEU to build separation early and never look back.
SEU led 48–29 at halftime after shooting nearly 59 percent in the opening 20 minutes. The Fire shared the ball well with 10 first-half assists and limited St. Thomas' rhythm offensively, holding the Bobcats to 35.7 percent shooting before the break. A balanced scoring effort and timely outside shooting helped SEU push the margin to double digits midway through the half, and the lead only grew from there.
Jayson Nixon delivered a standout performance, pouring in 27 points on 8-of-11 shooting while hitting 5-of-6 from three and 6-of-7 at the line. He scored 14 in the first half and added 13 more after the break, serving as the offensive catalyst throughout the night.
Mylo Santos added 19 points and five assists, repeatedly getting into the paint and finishing through contact while going 5-of-7 at the stripe.
Nathan Mikkelson provided a strong interior presence with 16 points and a team-high nine rebounds, shooting 6-of-7 from the field and 2-of-2 from three.
Daivion Traylor chipped in nine points on a perfect 3-of-3 from the floor, highlighting the Fire's overall efficiency.
Milos Stijepovic,
Jarin Edwards, and
LaDavian King combined to add key bench production as SEU showcased its depth.
In the second half, Southeastern continued to apply pressure, shooting 61.5 percent and stretching the lead to as many as 27. Even when St. Thomas found small runs, SEU answered quickly with quality looks and composed execution. The Fire finished with 31 rebounds and 18 assists, consistently turning good possessions into great ones with unselfish play.
Defensively, Southeastern limited St. Thomas to 41.4 percent shooting and just 28.6 percent from three-point range. The Bobcats never led and the game featured no ties or lead changes, a testament to SEU's control from start to finish. The Fire also forced 14 turnovers and turned those into valuable scoring chances that helped maintain separation throughout the night.
SEU returns home Saturday at 7 p.m. for a matchup against No. 11 Keiser at The Furnace. The contest carries postseason implications as the Fire continue conference play.
