FNU exits CAC tournament after loss to WAU. (March 2, 2024)
(Box Score)
LAWRENCE, KS. (March 2, 2024) – Florida National University’s basketball team (10-14) saw its hopes of a deep tournament run squashed on March 2 after falling 67-60 to the Washington Adventist University Shock (17-9). FNU fell short of the mark in the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) Men’s Basketball Championship tournament’s semifinal round, posting a hard-fought contest from start to finish.
From the initial tip-off, signs were pointing to a competitive match-up between the No.2 seeded Conquistadors and the No. 3 WAU Shock. WAU ended the first half with a slight lead over FNU at 31-25 thanks to a solid performance on the glass. Ray Daniel Parrish scored the final FNU points of the half on a smooth midrange jumper before Mohamed Bundu secured a six-point lead for the Shock with a shot from inside the three-point line.
When play resumed in the second half, FNU continued its tug-of-war with WAU through the majority of the period. Senior center Jonathan Mills posted the first points of the frame for either team, ending a two-minute scoring drought. FNU tied the game early with four made free throws from Parrish and Gary Adams. Both teams traded baskets until WAU’s Isaiah Anderson executed a much-needed three to give his team a bit of a cushion. Bundu added to this lead on the line with two made free throws after a foul from Adams.
Washington played a disciplined game from that point on to keep themselves ahead by at least two scores for the remainder of the contest. They handled FNU’s full-court press well and racked up four blocks. A three from Jovan Debrito made it a 65-60 WAU lead with 1:26 left on the clock, but FNU could not capitalize on another score throughout the remainder of the game. A couple of shots from the charity stripe by Derrick Hopkins with nine seconds left iced a semifinal victory for the Shock.
FNU shot 39% from the field and a less-than-ideal 18% from three. WAU ended the night shooting 33.3% from long range and 21-56 from the floor.
Parrish scored a team-high 17 points to go along with six boards and six dimes. Jovan Debrito and Matthew Robinson combined for 22.
