SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team returned to action for the first time in 2025, facing Saint Leo in a Sunshine State Conference matchup.

Today's matchup featured some late-game dramatics. The Sailfish held a 78-76 lead with five seconds remaining. The Lions had to go the length of the court and threw up a desperation three-point attempt, but it was off the mark. PBA escaped with a two-point win to preserve its undefeated road record and earn its first win of 2025.

Alvin Tumblin Jr. led the Sailfish with a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double. Joshua Ward added 13 points with seven assists and four rebounds. Jakob Hester scored 10 points with six boards and five dimes in his first start of the season. Tyler Burton tallied 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Graham Worland recorded 12 points off the bench, knocking down four 3-pointers.

The Sailfish fired on all cylinders to start the game. PBA ran the Lions off the three-point line and got its shots to fall from deep. 3-pointers from Worland and Hester gave the 'Fish a 27-10 lead with 8:37 left to play in the first half. Unfortunately for PBA, a 3-minute scoring drought followed, allowing the hosts to bring the deficit back to single digits. SLU got much of its offense in transition, including a three-ball right before halftime to make it a 42-33 lead for PBA at the break.

Worland led the 'Fish with nine points in the first period. Tumblin Jr. scored eight points with four rebounds. Ward orchestrated a lot of the offense, tallying four assists. The 'Fish shot 49 percent, including 43 percent from beyond the arc. Half of the Lions' first-half points were on the fast break.

The Lions continued to chip away at the PBA lead, doubling down on using the three-point shot. A 12-0 run, including a pair of trays from the hosts, gave Saint Leo a 59-56 lead with 11 minutes to play. SLU held a five-point lead, but the Sailfish never let the game get out of reach. The game flipped around the three-minute mark with a pull-up deep ball from Burton, putting the Sailfish back in front, 73-72. Hester and Ward followed with buckets of their own to give the 'Fish a five-point lead with 1:26 to go. 

The Lions refused to roll over, converting on a layup to make it a one-possession game. A missed jumper for PBA left the door open for the hosts. The Lions drove to the basket, drawing a foul, and earned an old-fashioned three-point play after a goaltending call on the play. The Sailfish caught a break as SLU missed the potential game-tying free throw. Ward knocked down one free throw to make it a two-point game with five seconds to go. The Lions went for the win but fell short to the 'Fish, 78-76.

PBA outshot the Lions 47 percent to 41 percent, including 39 percent to 19 percent from 3-point range. The turnover battle and the rebounding battle were both close to even.

The Sailfish return home to Rubin Arena on Wednesday for a matchup with a ranked Nova Southeastern team. Tip-off in West Palm Beach is set for 7:30 p.m.