Box score
GREENWOOD, S.C. − The Flagler College Saints used a 25-7 run midway through the second half to wipe out a seven-point deficit and hold off Lander University 66-54 in a Peach Belt Conference East Division men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at the Finis Horne Arena.
Flagler also spoiled a second opponent’s Homecoming festivities as it was Lander’s this afternoon. Flagler defeated Georgia Southwestern Feb. 13, 69-63, at its Homecoming in Americus, Ga.
Flagler improved to 10-15 overall and 5-11 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Saints also won their third game in a row on the road after losing their first seven road contests. Flagler moves into a tie for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East, with Lander. The Saints hold the head-to-head tiebreaker having swept the two-game series. The Bearcats fell for the second time in a row and are 11-14 overall and 5-11 in the conference.
The Saints trailed 39-32 with 15:56 left in the game after a Darius Johnson jumper capped a 6-0 run by the Bearcats. Flagler would answer by scoring the next eight points in a row capped by a jumper by
Eddie Fowler (Deltona, Fla./Pasco-Hernando CC) which gave the Saints their first lead since the 11:11 mark in the first half.
The lead was short-lived as Dane Sparrow completed a traditional three-point play to give the Bearcats a 42-40 lead, but Fowler made two consecutive baskets and the Saints never relinquished the lead again.
John Pietkiewicz (Winter Park, Fla./New Hampton (N.H.) Prep) scored the last seven points of Flagler’s 25-7 spurt and the Saints held a 57-46 advantage with 3:11 left.
Pietkiewicz scored 18 of his season-high 24 points in the second half. Fowler poured in 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and also blocked two shots.
Kenny Moore (Vero Beach, Fla./Vero Beach HS) contributed 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field.
D.J. Ferguson (Orlando, Fla./Bishop Moore HS) tallied a game-high nine assists to go along with six points and rebounds.
The Saints defense tightened up in the second half, holding the Bearcats to 30.8% (8-26) shooting from the field. Lander struggled for the game shooting just 38.9% (21-54).
Sparrow led the Bearcats with 17 points and six assists while Antonio Pope added 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the field. Brenton Harris grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
Flagler hosts Francis Marion University Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in its final home game of the season.
Flagler vs Lander
02/20/10 3:30 p.m. at Greenwood, SC
At Greenwood, SC
FLAGLER 66, LANDER 54
FLAGLER (10-15, 5-11 PBC)
Pietkiewicz, John 6-14 9-10 24; Fowler, Eddie 8-10 2-2 19; Moore, Kenny 6-8
1-2 13; Ferguson, D.J. 1-6 4-4 6; July, Chad 0-5 3-4 3; Dixon, Adam 0-2 1-4
1; Shuffler, Cody 0-3 0-0 0; Stokes, Justin 0-1 0-0 0; Clark, David 0-0 0-0
0; Branco, Jarrod 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-49 20-26 66.
LANDER (11-14, 5-11 PBC)
Sparrow, Dane 7-12 2-2 17; Pope, Antonio 5-5 3-4 13; Harris, Brenton 4-12
0-1 8; Milner, Curtis 2-3 3-3 7; Bailey, Tovi 1-6 2-4 5; Johnson, Darius 2-7
0-4 4; Mochoskay, Jacob 0-0 0-0 0; Hinson, Roy 0-2 0-0 0; Barrino, Da'Shon
0-4 0-0 0; Kelley, Kevin 0-0 0-0 0; Smalls, Greg 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 21-54
10-18 54.
Flagler....................... 28 38 - 66
Lander........................ 31 23 - 54
3-point goals--Flagler 4-14 (Pietkiewicz, John 3-8; Fowler, Eddie 1-2;
Ferguson, D.J. 0-1; Shuffler, Cody 0-1; Moore, Kenny 0-2), Lander 2-11
(Sparrow, Dane 1-5; Bailey, Tovi 1-2; Hinson, Roy 0-2; Barrino, Da'Shon 0-1;
Smalls, Greg 0-1). Fouled out--Flagler-Stokes, Justin; July, Chad,
Lander-Bailey, Tovi. Rebounds--Flagler 33 (Ferguson, D.J. 6), Lander 32
(Harris, Brenton 10). Assists--Flagler 16 (Ferguson, D.J. 9), Lander 13
(Sparrow, Dane 6). Total fouls--Flagler 18, Lander 21. Technical
fouls--Flagler-None, Lander-Sparrow, Dane. A-2075