WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team claimed an 86-78 victory over Florida Southern College on Wednesday night at Rubin Arena, improving to 19-3 overall and 11-3 in the Sunshine State Conference.

PBA's win, strengthens its hold on second place in the SSC. Florida Southern moves a game and a half back in third place. The Sailfish dominated in the paint, outscoring the Mocs 48-26, which proved crucial in their triumph. This win also marked the third straight game with at least 16 assists, highlighting the 'Fish's passing prowess. PBA got revenge on the Mocs after dropping the game in Lakeland on New Year's Eve.

Blake Wilson led the charge with 18 points and seven rebounds. Graham Worland was right behind him with 17 points and four boards. Alvin Tumblin was pivotal, adding 15 points, nine rebounds, and a pair of steals. Preston Le Gassick chipped in 12 points and facilitated with five assists, marking his fifth consecutive game with a dozen points or more. Tyler Burton showcased defensive brilliance with 12 points and six steals.

PBA set the tone early in the first half, with Tumblin's layup at 19:38 sparking an initial lead. The Sailfish's effective paint play brought them 26 points in that area. Christian Kirkland's layup and free throw at 18:24 pushed the lead to 8-3.

As the half unfolded, the 'Fish saw significant contributions from Le Gassick, who nailed a couple of threes, and Wilson who was a force in the paint with 11 first half points. The half was a battle of back-and-forth scoring, with lead changes and ties reflecting evenly matched competition. The first half concluded with Jakob Hester grabbing an offensive rebound and tipping it in with 29 seconds left, leveling the score at 45 all. 

The 'Fish kicked off the second half with strong defensive plays and key steals from Burton and Tumblin, quickly taking a four-point lead. Kirkland and Tumblin maintained the pace with impactful dunks and fast breaks, extending the advantage to eight points. The Mocs made a push mid-way through the half to take a five-point lead with nine minutes left to play.

As the half wore on, PBA capitalized on turnovers and fast breaks, with Le Gassick and Wilson adding crucial points in the paint. Burton's key 3-pointer further stretched the lead to four with 3:48 left, and the team kept their composure at the line to close out the game with a decisive 86-78 win.

PBA outshot the Mocs 50 percent to 41 percent in the game. The Mocs shot just 22 percent from three on 18 attempts in the second half. The rebounding battle was tied at 38 with the Mocs coming out on top with 21 second-chance points.

The Sailfish hit the road on Saturday to take on Saint Leo. The game in Saint Leo, Florida takes place at 4 p.m.