WINTER PARK, Fla. -- Florida Southern saw its hopes for a perfect season dashed Wednesday evening as Rollins shot 57 percent from the 3-point line and outscored the second-ranked Moccasins 25-12 in the final two minutes of regulation and overtime to post an 82-76 victory in Sunshine State Conference action.
The loss was the first of the season for the Mocs as they entered the game having won its first 18 games this season to match the best start in school history. FSC fell to 18-1 overall and 7-1 in the SSC with Wednesday's setback, while Rollins improved to 9-9 overall and 3-5 in the SSC.
"We didn't play very good at time tonight, especially down the stretch holding onto a 7-point lead," Mocs head coach Linc Darner said following his team's first loss since falling 96-82 in last season's NCAA Division II Elite national quarterfinal game to Western Washington. "Rollins hit a some big shots down the stretch to force overtime and once we got to overtime, we just couldn't finish."
No. 6 East Stroudsburg 112, Mansfield 79
MANSFIELD, Pa. -- Sixth-ranked East Stroudsburg trailed 50-48 with 15:20 left and then went on a 34-3 run in just six minutes to sprint past Mansfield and remain unbeaten (19-0) with a 112-79 road win in PSAC East action on Wednesday night at Decker Gymnasium.
ESU, one of three undefeated teams left in Division II, set a school record for its longest overall win streak at 19 games - breaking a mark of 18 wins spanning the 1941-42 and 1942-43 seasons.
ESU assumes sole possession of Division II's longest active winning streak after No. 2 Florida Southern fell to 18-1 with an 82-76 (OT) loss at Rollins.
The Warriors also posted their 10th consecutive road win, tying a mark set in 1926-27 through 1927-28 - the first 10 road games in program history. They tied the 1940-41 through 1941-42 teams with their 15th consecutive win against a PSAC school, and matched the 1932-33 and 1942-43 teams with their eight consecutive win by double figures.
No. 9 South Carolina Aiken 71, Flagler 60
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- Ninth-ranked South Carolina Aiken used a 9-0 run in the final 1:29 to pick up a 71-60 road win at Flagler on Wednesday evening in a Peach Belt Conference contest.
The Pacers are now 18-2 overall, including a 10-0 effort against league foes. The victory extends USC Aiken's winning streak to 13 games.
Paul Larsen's steal, layup and free throw for the old-fashioned three-point play with 1:20 to play gave the Pacers a 65-60 advantage. After Jesse Seilern's steal, DeVontae Wright was fouled and easily converted both free throws, pushing the margin to seven at 67-60.
Seilern then corralled a rebound and lobbed a pass to Alvin Brown for a dunk with 36 seconds to play before Ronald Zimmerman pulled down a missed Flagler shot and found Seilern, who quickly found Brown for another dunk and the final points of the contest.
Wright scored a team-high 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting in the win. Zimmerman added 14 points, including 12 from behind the 3-point stripe. Larsen chipped in 13 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Brown narrowly missed out on a double-double performance with eight points and eight boards. Seilern scored just two points but dished out six assists and snagged five rebounds.
USC Aiken outrebounded the home squad 48-29, including a 15-3 margin on the offensive glass. The Pacers maintained a 16-4 lead in second-chance points.
USC Aiken registered 16 assists and held a 10-2 advantage in fast-break points. Additionally, the team controlled the paint, outscoring Flagler 36-20.
