Basketball finishes memorable season
Ashley Islas
Issue date: 3/27/09 Section: Sports
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Staff Writer
A new set of expectations have been established for all upcoming Florida Southern College's men's basketball teams as the 2008-09 team completed a journey to become conference champions and earned a spot in the NCAA Division II Sweet 16.
The veterans of the team, seniors Braxton Williams, Rob Eldridge, Eric Fernandez and Carlton Morrick, and juniors Rion Rayfield, Alvin Bradley and Cameron Wooten are familiar with the most recent history of the Mocs' basketball program.
All of these players either witnessed or joined the team after the 2006-07 season, in which the Mocs went 8-20. Over three years, the Mocs and head coach Linc Darner have made the Mocs one of the top teams in the Sunshine State Conference. Players that joined the team in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons have also contributed in furthering the team's success and claiming a spot as a formidable NCAA South Region opponent.
This year, the Mocs would end their season in a bittersweet fashion. The Mocs finished this season 29-7 and made a run in the NCAA South Regional Final Round. The Mocs fell to Christian Brothers in the final after beating Le-Moyne Owen and Arkansas Tech.
FSC 94, Le-Moyne-Owen College 76
After a first half of a poor Moc defense, LeMoyne-Owen's Rasuul Buluu was able to take advantage of the first 20 minutes. In the second half, the Mocs learned from their earlier errors and were able to produce a series of runs that led the Mocs to a win.
Rob Eldridge led with 23 points and five Mocs finished in double figures, too. John Thompson scored 17 of his 23 from the free throw line. Preston Fredrick scored 12 in the first half to help keep the Mocs within reach. Terry Jenkins had 11 and an important 3-pointer to tie the game right before Eldridge hit his 3's. Rion Rayfield added another 11.
FSC 95, Arkansas Tech College 92
In the first half, the Mocs shot only 40 percent while the Wonder Boys were able to dominate with 51.6 percent.
The two leading scorers for the Mocs, Rob Eldridge and Rion Rayfield, found themselves in foul trouble early in the game. Eldridge was eliminated from play with only 5:24 left in the second half and Rayfield followed at the 2:08 mark.
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