SCOTT MANDZIARA | Reporter
Men’s basketball had four starters score double digits as they defeated Florida Tech 76-66 in Melbourne, Florida, on Saturday afternoon.
Guards Brad Newman, Jackson Price and Adam Pohlman and forward Chandler Diekvoss all finished with double digits in Saturday’s contest.
Diekvoss led the way with 21 points and shot 61.5 percent from the field. He was one rebound shy of having a double-double. Newman had 14 points followed by Price’s 12 and Pohlman’s 11. Lindenwood had nine different players score in Saturday’s game.
It was a different story for the Panthers as preseason All-American forward Sam Daniel finished with 33 points, which was a season high. Guard Jordan Majors added 19 points. Daniel and Majors were responsible for 79 percent of the team’s points.
Both players were never subbed out of the game up until they fouled out. Majors fouled out with just over five minutes remaining and Daniel in the final minute.
As far as the game went, the Lions found themselves in a hole early on, as they trailed 19-10 with 11:44 to play in the first half. After coach Lance Randall took a timeout, the Lions went on a 27-10 run over the course of the next 10:11 seconds to get a 37-29 lead.
At the half, the Lions led 37-34.
In the second half the Lions went on a 22-9 run that would get the lead to 19 points with 10:38, according to Lindenwood Athletics.
The next five minutes of play would be all Florida Tech. In a game of runs, the Panthers went on a 19-7 run of their own to make the game 66-62 with just over three minutes to play.
The Lions shot 7-7 from the charity stripe down the stretch to secure the win over Florida Tech. Lindenwood improved to 3-1 on the season as Florida Tech fell to 0-4.
Coming up next for Lindenwood is the home opener. The team will take on Hannibal-LaGrange at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 27, at the Hyland Arena.