NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team (2-0, 0-0 Sunshine State) edged out Morehouse College (0-2, 0-0 SIAC) with a narrow 78-77 victory on Sunday at Trojan Fieldhouse. The Sailfish sank 16 three-pointers, which proved crucial in overcoming the Maroon Tigers' 41-point first half.

Preston Le Gassick scored a career-high total of 29 points, hitting eight 3-pointers and converting 5-of-7 from the free-throw line. Le Gassick finished one 3-pointer short of tying PBA's DII-era record for threes in a game.

Tyler Burton added 18 points, making 4-of-10 from beyond the arc and contributing three assists. Graham Worland posted 10 points and led the team with five assists while collecting five rebounds. Alvin Tumblin recorded two blocks and grabbed five rebounds.

The 'Fish opened the first half with a strong shooting performance, highlighted by Worland's early three-pointer. The team's offensive efforts were bolstered by Le Gassick, who contributed multiple three-pointers, and Tumblin's defensive presence, which included two blocks. The 'Fish built momentum with a 21–20 lead midway through the half, thanks to Burton's layup following a turnover by MC.

Despite the solid effort, the 'Fish faced stiff competition, as the Maroon Tigers capitalized on fast breaks and bench points to keep the game tightly contested. The teams exchanged leads multiple times, with Le Gassick hitting a crucial three-pointer at 1:18 to briefly regain the advantage. However, a late three-pointer by Mourhouse's Sincere Key in the final second of the half gave the Maroon Tigers a narrow edge. The half concluded with the 'Fish trailing 41–39.

The Maroon Tigers converted on 6-of-8 3-point attempts in the first half. PBA knocked down nine of its 20 3-point attempts in the first half. 

The 'Fish opened the second half by countering the Maroon Tigers' fast-break dunk with a layup by Burton. The 'Fish experienced a brief scoring lull, allowing the Maroon Tigers to edge ahead. However, a surge led by Burton's two three-pointers, including one at 15:02, narrowed the gap to one point at 48–47.

As the half progressed, the 'Fish gained momentum with a series of stops. Jakob Hester tied the game at 53–53 with a layup at 10:41, setting the stage for Le Gassick's three-pointer at 7:32 that pushed the score to 63–58. The team maintained their lead, with Worland's three-pointer at 5:51 making it a 66-65 game.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Le Gassick and Burton allowed PBA to pull away to an eight-point lead with 2:52 remaining. In the final moments, the 'Fish capitalized on key free throws by Le Gassick, ensuring their control over the scoreboard. Despite the Maroon Tigers' two late threes, the 'Fish held on to win, 78-77.

The Sailfish won the rebounding battle, 39-28. Morehouse outshot PBA 54-to-46 percent from the field, but PBA finished with 16 threes compared to 12 for the Maroon Tigers. Morehouse struggled at the free throw line, shooting 5-for-12 from the charity stripe.

PBA returns to West Palm Beach for its home opener on Saturday. The Sailfish host SSC foe Florida Tech in Rubin Arena at 4 p.m.