BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort men's basketball team opened its home schedule with a 98–93 victory over the Florida Tech Panthers, building a first half 18-point lead and holding on late to win the the third straight game to start the season.
The Sand Sharks improve to 3–0, while the Panthers fall to 0–3.
USCB was powered by five players in double figures, led by Dominic Eason's 18 points. He was joined by Hudson Norton, Kevaughn Price, Ismail Rashid, and Lukas Platauna in double digits. Defensively, the Sand Sharks recorded 14 steals, with three players tallying three each. Dylan Lewis and Rashid shared team-high rebounding honors with seven apiece.
USCB opened the game with quick scoring and tough defense, jumping ahead 4–0 on a Price putback and an Eason layup off a steal from Lewis. Florida Tech didn't score until the 16:53 mark of the first half. After briefly falling behind, Norton knocked down a three assisted by Nolan Paladugu to tie the game at 7–7.
The teams traded buckets, reaching a 16–16 tie with 10:37 remaining. After the Panthers evened the score at 18–18, the Sand Sharks started a pivotal 13–0 run, led by Platauna and Norton with four points each. Norton had the biggest play at the 8:28 mark stealing the pass before slamming home a dunk on the other end. After the basket Dylan Lewis kept the momentum from the big play with a block on the next shot as Florida Tech called a timeout. USCB hit five of six shots and forced two turnovers during the stretch to take a 31–18 lead. Price later buried a three to push the advantage to 17, as Platauna extended it to 20 on a layup assisted by Norton. The Sand Sharks led 49–31 at halftime.
Florida Tech opened the second half with a 12–0 run, cutting the lead to 49–43 before Jamicah Adair ended the drought with a three. The Panthers eventually tied the game 54–54 at the 14:26 mark. The teams traded leads until a Norton layup assisted by Evan Kilminster put USCB ahead 62–61. A 7–0 run rebuilt the margin, but Florida Tech countered with a 6–0 run to tie it again at 69–69.
Eason then sparked a 10–3 run, hitting two threes, with Platauna adding another to keep USCB up seven. Florida Tech tied the game once more at 81–81 before the Sand Sharks responded in the final four minutes.
A decisive 9–2 run, led by Kilminster's five points and a perfect 3-for-3 team shooting stretch, put USCB ahead 90–83 with two minutes left. Florida Tech threatened late but never got closer than three, as the Sand Sharks sealed the game at the foul line with six straight free throws to close out the 98–93 win.
USCB finished with 20 assists on 33 made field goals, including 12 three-pointers, while scoring 40 points in the paint and 25 points off 21 forced turnovers.
The Sand Sharks now begin a six-game road stretch, starting with a weekend back-to-back: Christian Brothers on Saturday, followed by Alabama Huntsville on Sunday.
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