WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish returned home to the friendly confines of Rubin Arena on Wednesday night to host Florida Tech in a Sunshine State Conference contest.

The Sailfish entered the day receiving votes in the NABC top 25. PBA looked to bounce back from a tough loss at Tampa on Saturday. The 'Fish put on a defensive showcase against the Panthers, holding Tech to 29 percent shooting from the field. The Sailfish allowed the fifth-fewest points in their D2 era, taking home the 72-48 win.

Broderick Ellis led the Sailfish offense off the bench with 11 points and eight rebounds. Tyler Burton and Jamaal Walker scored 10 points each. Walker grabbed six rebounds with four assists. Burton hit two threes with three dimes. Jakob Hester tallied nine points with four rebounds and three blocks. Graham Worland knocked down three threes with two steals. Will Lee recorded eight points with seven assists and two steals. Joshua Ward finished with eight points and eight rebounds. Jose Roberto Tanchyn pulled down a team-high nine rebounds with seven points.

The Panthers scored 10 points in the first five minutes of the game, but their scoring pace dropped drastically. The Sailfish took the lead early in the first after a three from Worland and a mid-range jumper from Ellis. Back-to-back buckets from Lee made it 24-15 PBA with 8:10 left in the half. Tech only scored five points in the last eight minutes of the half. The Panthers shot 25 percent in the first half, including 0-for-6 from three. PBA led at halftime, 40-20.

Florida Tech chipped away in the second half after knocking down a pair of 3-pointers. The Panthers cut the Sailfish lead to 12, but a 7-0 run with a bucket from Ellis and a 3-pointer from Worland put the 'Fish back in front 58-39. Scores from Ward, Walker, and Tanchyn, made it a 25-point lead, with PBA eventually cruising to a 72-48 win.

PBA outshot the Panthers, 44 percent to 39 percent. Tech converted on 4-of-19 from 3-point range. PBA won the rebounding battle, 44-37. The Sailfish turned 11 Tech turnovers into 14 points, while the visitors did not score a single point off eight PBA turnovers. The hosts passed out 22 assists on 29 made field goals.

The Sailfish hit the road on Saturday, heading to nearby Lynn. The game in Boca Raton takes place at 4:00 p.m.