MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team returned to action on Friday against North Greenville at the Florida Tech Thanksgiving Classic.

The Sailfish received their first-ever top-25 ranking in the DII-era this week, coming in at No. 23 in the NBC poll and No. 24 in the D2CSC poll. PBA looked to keep its undefeated streak alive against the Trailblazers. 

The game was tightly contested from the beginning and tied at 71 with 1:36 left to play. Out of a timeout, Will Lee blew up the Trailblazer play, getting a steal with the ball ending up in Hester's hands. Hester made a pair of free throws to secure the win for the Sailfish 77-73.

Hester led the Sailfish with 17 points and three assists. Jose Roberto Tanchyn stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, three rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Tanchyn finished a perfect 5-for-5 from the field. Ward finished with 10 points, four rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. Graham Worland converted on three 3-pointers off the bench. Reigning SSC Player of the Week Jamaal Walker scored eight points with two rebounds. Lee tallied seven points, two assists, and two steals.

North Greenville led for most of the first half. Ward was subbed out after receiving his second foul with seven minutes to play in the period. Walker and Tanchyn provided the bulk of the PBA offense. As the half wound down, Walker converted on an old-fashioned three-point play before Tanchyn knocked down a 3-pointer to give the 'Fish a 30-28 lead with 2:19 remaining. NGU answered with a triple of its own, taking a 33-32 lead into halftime. 

The Trailblazers won the rebounding battle 20-10 in the first half. The teams shot similar numbers from the floor.

PBA's offense started slow in the second half, allowing NGU to build a 39-32 lead. The duo of Lee and Hester chipped away at the deficit. PBA ramped up the defensive intensity, forcing turnovers to help create some easier looks in transition. Alvin Tumblin Jr. made a pair of layups after turnovers to give the Sailfish the lead with 11:27 to play. Worland got hot from 3-point land later in the half. A trio of 3-pointers built a 70-64 lead for PBA, but NGU answered with a three-ball to stay in the game. 

Some missed free throws down the stretch were costly for the 'Fish and allowed NGU to tie the game at 71. PBA got a pair of buckets from Joshua Ward and Jakob Hester to take a four-point lead. NGU answered with a layup to make it a two-point game with 21 seconds left. PBA missed its free throws which could have put the game away, giving the Trailblazers a chance to tie or take the leader with 10 seconds to go. Lee ensured that the Trailblazers did not get a shot off and earned another trip to the charity stripe for Hester, who iced the game, 77-73.

PBA's defense forced 20 turnovers, leading to 20 points in the game. NGU won the battle of the boards, 39-19, with 14 offensive rebounds turning into 13 points. Both teams shot 51 percent from the field. The Sailfish received help off the bench, totaling 44 points from the reserves. 

PBA's win brings the team to 6-0 its best start to a season since 1974-75. The Sailfish look to tie the program's best start ever on Saturday against Puerto Rico Bayamon at 4 p.m.