WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team had its two-game winning streak snapped at the hands of Saint Leo on Saturday. The Lions got revenge on a Sailfish team that beat them three times last season.
The Sailfish defense struggled to contain the Saint Leo (3-1) offense in the first half. The Lions were on fire from 3-point range in the first period, shooting 12-of-16 from deep, leading to 57 first-half points. A 17-point halftime deficit was too much for PBA (2-2) to overcome as the 'Fish fell to the Lions, 99-75.
Dan Largey and
Jules Jasmin led the PBA attack with 18 points each. Largey knocked down three 3-pointers to go with a team-high four rebounds.
Casey Carpinello got the start at point guard, tallying five assists.
Nate Ward added 13 points going 4-of-5 from the field and knocking down five free throws.
For the fourth straight game, the Sailfish jumped out to an early lead after the first ten minutes. A pair of Ward free throws gave the 'Fish a 13-7 lead; however, that is when SLU started to heat up from deep. A 24-2 run, which included six 3-pointers, put the Lions in front 31-16 at the nine-minute mark. A Lions' triple with just over five minutes left made it a 22-point deficit for the 'Fish. PBA did its best to answer, cutting the lead to 12, but the Lions closed out the half with two more threes to make it 57-40 at the break.
The Sailfish came back with more energy to start the second half. PBA slowly chipped away at the lead, cutting the deficit to nine after a layup from Ward. The visitors answered with a four-point play and never looked back the rest of the game. A 12-0 run by the Lions at the five-minute mark put the end to the hopes of any Sailfish comeback as the Lions cruised to the 99-75 win.
Saint Leo finished the game with the 65 percent field goal percentage, including an 18-for-29 performance from the 3-point line. PBA did hold the advantage in points off turnovers with 26 and in second-chance points with 11. The Lions received a heavy contribution from their second-unit with 33 points coming off the bench.
The Sailfish are scheduled to face Florida Tech on the road on Wednesday. The game in Melbourne, Fla. tips off at 5 p.m.
