WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team secured an 86-61 win over Puerto Rico - Mayaguez in its first game of the PBA Thanksgiving Classic on Friday. The win keeps the Sailfish rolling, bringing their record to 4-1.
The Sailfish led wire-wire in today's game.
Jamaal Walker and
Dan Braster led the PBA offense with 16 points each as PBA cruised to an 86-61 win over the Tarzans. The win marks PBA's best start since the 2014-15 season when they started 6-1.
In the first half, the 'Fish demonstrated their dominance building a 45-27 halftime lead. PBA's cohesive effort was evident in their rebounding, with a total of 30 rebounds, and their defensive prowess was on display forcing 11 turnovers.
Broderick Ellis made his presence felt with a standout dunk, contributing to the team's high-energy performance. Other notable contributions came from
Will Lee and
Trent McNair, who were instrumental in building the lead. Lee scored 10 points while McNair added nine points in the opening period.
In the second half, PBA continued its assertive play, further solidifying its lead. The 'Fish hustled for an additional 17 rebounds, bringing their game total to 47, and maintained defensive pressure by forcing seven turnovers and swatting seven shots. Ellis delivered another high-flying dunk, energizing the team and the crowd. Key players in this half included McNair, who finished with 15 points, and Braster, who scored seven points with seven rebounds in the half.
In PBA's commanding win, five key players were instrumental in their scoring success. Braster went 5-of-10 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. The junior grabbed 11 rebounds in the game, earning a double-double. Lee followed closely, contributing 15 points, bolstered by his three 3-pointers. McNair finished 7-for-11 from the field with seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. Walker tallied 12 of his 16 points in the second half with seven rebounds and five assists in the game. Ellis flirted with a double-double, scoring seven points with nine rebounds.
The 'Fish outshot the Tarzans, boasting a 43 percent field goal percentage against their opponent's 41 percent shooting. The 'Fish excelled in free throw accuracy with 76.9 percent on 13 attempts compared to their opponents' 53.3 percent on 15 attempts. The 'Fish also dominated the paint, scoring 52 points against the Tarzans' 32. PBA scored 19 second-chance points and forced 18 turnovers leading to 18 points.
The 'Fish will compete again tomorrow, Nov. 25, against Puerto Rico - Bayamon where they will continue their Thanksgiving Classic run at home. The game in Rubin Arena is set for 4 p.m.
