Falcons ice out Conquistadors at Bucky Dent Park. (Jan. 19, 2024)
(Box Score)
HIALEAH, Fla. (Jan. 19, 2024) – Florida National University’s men’s basketball team added another tough loss to the 203-24 season following an 85-65 defeat to the Florida College Falcons on Friday. This was the second Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) loss for FNU. FC’s otherworldly shooting in the first half helped them jump to an early 52-29 lead at halftime and became too much to overcome for FNU in the second half.
In the first half, FC posted a whooping 64.3% shooting performance from the field led by Deonte’ Martinez’s 11 points in 14 minutes of play. The Falcons were feeling it from downtown, knocking down seven of 13 threes attempted in the opening frame. For the Conquistadors, a four-minute scoring drought allowed FC to post 17 unanswered points. Guards Jovan Debrito and Matias Montezuma had 20 of FNU’s points in the period, with 14 and six, respectively.
When play resumed in the second, FNU got off to a solid start, cutting FC’s lead to nine after a tough jump shot from Ray Daniel Parrish with 12:92 on the clock. Montezuma was essential to FNU’s offensive momentum with a 12-point half that featured 4-6 shooting from three. This run was quickly extinguished after an easy dunk from Jashavius Perdue to put FC on top by double digits. The Falcons rattled off seven answered points to essentially close the door on an FNU comeback. FC managed the clock well and continued to score just enough to keep FNU in the rearview.
A gassed Conquistador squad had seven turnovers in the second and allowed FC to connect on 11 of 13 free throw attempts.
Montezuma’s 6-11 shooting from behind the arch earned him a team-high 18 points, while Parrish had a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Debrito continued to find his rhythm on offense and ended the night with 16 points, three rebounds and two assists. Notably, Ralph Laurent led all reserves with six points off the bench.
Up Next: Florida National hosts CAC foe Morris College on Jan. 24 for its final home game of the season.
