BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team faced Lynn University in the first round of the Sunshine State Conference tournament on Tuesday.

Tuesday's game was the rubber match as PBA and Lynn split the regular season series. It looked like the Fighting Knights were going to run away with the game after building a 17-point lead at the 12-minute mark. The Sailfish clawed all the way back into the game to take a two-point lead after a steal from Marcus Montalvo led to a layup from Will Lee. The hosts answered with a 3-pointer to retake the lead and regain momentum. PBA had three chances to tie or take the lead down the stretch, but they failed to complete the comeback. Lynn held on to win 81-75.

Grant Ledford led the team with 20 points and nine rebounds. Montalvo and Lee finished with 13 points each. Montalvo tallied eight rebounds and three steals. Lee recorded four rebounds and a steal. Jamaal Walker scored 10 points with four rebounds. Micah Jones provided a spark off the bench with nine points. Trent McNair finished with six points and swiped five steals.

Similar to the game at Lynn earlier this season, the Fighting Knights shot the ball well in the first half. The hosts went 5-for-8 from 3-point range and shot 62 percent in the period. Lynn led by seven points at the 11:32 mark, but the Sailfish, led by Ledford's 15 first-half points, came back to take a one-point lead. The squads traded buckets and leads as the half wound down. Two PBA turnovers allowed LU to gain a 42-38 lead at halftime.

The Sailfish offense struggled to start the second half. PBA only scored one field goal through the first eight minutes of the period. The Fighting Knights continued to knock down the three-ball, helping them build a 63-46 lead with 12 minutes to play. Things looked bleak for the Sailfish, but Jones came off the bench and pumped some life into the 'Fish by attacking the rim on offense and bringing defensive intensity. The freshman scored seven points in a two-minute span to help PBA cut the deficit to single digits.

Broderick Ellis was ready when his number was called. He swatted a shot on the defensive end and knocked down four free throws to make it a seven-point game. A steal and layup from McNair, followed by a triple from Montalvo made it 67-65 Lynn with seven minutes to go. As the game entered crunch time, Lee scored six consecutive points for the 'Fish to make it 73-71 PBA with 2:18 to play.

Unfortunately for the 'Fish, Lynn answered with a 3-ball, then forced a PBA turnover that led to a breakaway dunk, putting the hosts ahead 76-73 with 1:35 to play. PBA got off a pair of threes but couldn't get either to fall. Lynn knocked down its free throws down the stretch to hold off PBA 81-75.

Lynn outshot PBA 51 percent to 43 percent in the game. The Sailfish went 3-for-16 from 3-point range while the hosts hit 10-of-25 attempts from deep. Lynn won the rebounding battle 41-32, but PBA outscored them in second-chance points.  PBA forced Lynn into 20 turnovers leading to 24 points for the 'Fish.

Tonight's game marks the end of the 2023-24 season for the Sailfish men's basketball team, finishing with a 17-12 overall record and an 11-9 mark in the SSC. The Sailfish have improved every year under coach Cole Rose. This season marked the second-most wins since joining the SSC and is the best season since the team made the national tournament with 21 wins in 2019-20.