LAKELAND, Fla. — After a blistering offensive start from both squads, the Southeastern University men’s basketball team found their rhythm defensively to pull away from Great Lakes Christian 80-64.

It was back and forth in the early going as neither team could miss from the field. The Fire trailed 22-21 before Brandon Sanders went on a 6-0 run by himself to give his team a 27-22 edge. Sanders provided a spark for SEU off the bench, totaling ten points and two blocks in 12 minutes of action.

The two teams would trade baskets the remainder of the half before Southeastern took a 41-38 lead into the locker room.

Great Lakes Christian came out firing from beyond the arc, converting on eight of their 18 attempts from 3-PT range.

Southeastern, meanwhile, shot 51.5% from the field and were buoyed by Reggie Mesidor and Devon Ford who scored 12 and ten first half points, respectively.

It was a different story for GLCC in the second half as Southeastern clamped down defensively, holding the Crusaders to convert just 32.3% of their shots, including a 25% mark from three.

An 11-3 run from SEU to open the second half gave them separation and their lead would never get below seven points the remainder of the game.

Riley Matticks got into a groove offensively in the final 20 minutes of action, putting up ten points, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out three assists. He recorded his first double-double in a Fire uniform as he finished with 17 points and ten rebounds.

Mesidor finished with a team-high 19 points and recorded two steals. Forward Devon Ford totaled 16 points and six rebounds.

Freshman Sean Shore had another nice outing with 12 points, two rebounds and a block. This was his third straight outing in double figures after not reaching that mark in his first eight games.

The Fire (9-5) return to action in Sun Conference play on Saturday when they host Webber International at 4:00 pm.

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LAKELAND, Fla. – The Southeastern University men’s basketball team bounced back strong in The Furnace Friday evening with a resounding 90-47 victory over the Ecclesia College Royals.

SEU shot 50% (27-54) from the field, 46.7% (7-15) from three-point range, and 90.6% (29-32) from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, the Fire held the Royals to 28.8% (15-52) from the field, including 24% (6-25) from behind the arc.

The Fire used a 17-2 run from 16:28 to 11:44 in the first half to open up the contest early 25-7 in their advantage. During that run, SEU kept EC scoreless for a span of 3:25.

Senior center Devon Ford got off to a solid start on both sides of the glass for Southeastern, dialing in nine points, recording seven rebounds, and swiping a pair of steals in the first half. Ford went on to score a career-high 17 and haul in 11 rebounds to record a double-double.

SEU was able to overcome 10 first-half turnovers by limiting Ecclesia to under 30% from the field (8-27), including 16.7% (2-12) from three-point land in the first half. The Fire took a 42-26 advantage into the half.

The Fire got to the free-throw line early and often in the second half, going 19-21 at the charity stripe on 13 second-half fouls. Freshman guard Deshaun Osborne was a perfect 10-10 from the free-throw line in the second half, and 11-11 overall in the contest as he finished the contest with 16 points, which tied his career high.

Sophomore guard Reggie Mesidor also finished with 16 points, as well as five rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Senior forward Karl Jeanty also posted a double-double for the Fire, scoring 10 and bringing in 10 boards. Senior forward Alaowei Talent-Fitzgerald scored 11 points coming off the bench to become the fifth SEU player to register double-digit scoring.

The Fire are back in action tomorrow afternoon inside The Furnace, as they host the Florida Memorial University Lions in a Sun Conference showdown. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

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