LAKELAND, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team played its final game of 2023 against the Florida Southern Mocs on Saturday night. 

The Sailfish (8-4, 2-2 SSC) faced off against an FSC (10-3, 4-0 SSC) team that had won five games in a row entering the contest. PBA held a lead to start the game, but a cold spell on the offensive end allowed the Mocs to take control toward the end of the first half. FSC's potent offense was too much for the 'Fish to handle, as the hosts won 100-80.

Trent McNair led the 'Fish with 19 points with five rebounds and two steals. Grant Ledford recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. He tied a team-high with six assists. Jamaal Walker tallied 13 points and eight rebounds with two steals. Dan Braster totaled 12 points with three rebounds. Marcus Montalvo scored nine points with six assists.

A 3-pointer from McNair gave PBA a 19-18 lead at the 13-minute mark in the first half. Buckets from Jamaal Walker and a 3-pointer from Ledford gave the Sailfish their largest lead of the game with 10:47 to go in the period. A four-minute drought on the offensive end allowed FSC to retake the lead. The Mocs led by as many as eight down the stretch in the first half, but a bucket from Ledford and a dunk from Broderick Ellis kept the Sailfish in reach. PBA went into halftime trailing FSC, 47-41.

Ledford led PBA with 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the opening period. McNair and Walker followed with eight points each. PBA did not shoot a free throw in the first half, and both teams combined for just six fouls.

FSC hit the Sailfish with a barrage of 3-pointers in the second half. The Mocs shot 8-for-11 from deep in the second half alone. On the other end, PBA couldn't find its shot, going 0-for-9 from 3-point land in the period, finishing 5-of-23 for the game. PBA nearly matched its offensive output from the first half, but the 3-pointers from the Mocs allowed the hosts to extend their lead. FSC defended home court with a 100-80 win.

The Mocs shot 55 percent from the field in the second half compared to 40 percent for the Sailfish. McNair scored 11 of his points in the second half. Braster added eight points of his own in the period.

PBA was outshot in the game, 52 percent to 42 percent. The turnover numbers and the rebounding totals were nearly identical for both teams. PBA recorded more second-chance points by snagging seven more offensive rebounds. 

The Sailfish won't compete again until next year, facing off against Florida Tech on Jan. 3. The game in Melbourne, Fla. takes place at 6 p.m.