Men's basketball team falls to Florida Southwestern

The Eastern Florida State College men's basketball team went cold down the stretch, falling to No. 10 Florida Southwestern Friday night in the Jim Grimes Classic at Titan Field House.

Florida Southwestern scored the final 17 points to pick up the 66-56 victory over the Titans, who lost their third straight game.

The Titans got off to a strong start, scoring 16 of the first 24 points and held an early eight-point lead but Florida Southwestern came back and took the lead with just under nine minutes left in the first half. The teams traded the lead down the stretch and it looked like Florida Southwestern would have the lead at halftime but sophomore Junior Madut hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to halftime tied 29-29.

The Titans once again had a seven-point lead but Florida Southwestern hit a 3-pointer and a foul was called giving the Bucs the ball. They hit another 3-pointer making it a six-point play and after a Titans miss, hit another 3-pointer to take the lead.

Eastern Florida State College would go on a 12-0 run to take a 50-42 lead and held the lead until Florida Southwestern's Charles Manning Jr. scored eight straight points to give the Bucs the lead for good. 

Manning led all scorers with 17 points. Madut led the Titans with 12 points.

Florida Southwestern will play Salt Lake Community College at 2 p.m. with the Titans hosting Broward College at 4 p.m. in the final day of the Jim Grimes Classic. Admission to Titan Field House is free.