Men's basketball team hosting College of Central Florida in first-place battle

It will be a battle for first place in the Mid-Florida Conference Saturday afternoon as the men's basketball team hosts the College of Central Florida at 4 p.m. at Titan Field House.

The Titans, Patriots and Daytona State College all head into the weekend tied at 6-2 in the Mid-Florida Conference standings with three games left. Daytona State College is off Saturday but travels to Santa Fe on Wednesday. The Falcons will be at Titan Field House on Wednesday, Feb. 20 in the final game of the regular season.

Saturday will be the third and final meeting of the regular season for the Titans and Patriots with each team winning once. In the conference opener on Jan. 5, the Patriots beat the Titans at Titan Field House 71-60. But the Titans got even, going to Ocala and picking up the 65-64 road win on Ayo Dada's free throw with one second left, setting up Saturday's showdown.

"It is a big-time opportunity for our team. We play in what I believe is the best conference in the entire country, and with just four games left we are in a dog fight for the conference championship," Eastern Florida State College men's basketball coach Jeremy Shulman said. "A great opportunity tomorrow and I hope the entire community comes out to support this special team we have this year."

Dada is coming off his best game as a Titan, hitting nine 3-pointers and scoring a season-high 29 points in the Titans win against Santa Fe.

In the two games this season, Patriots guard Quentin Jackson is averaging 14.5 points per game and is averaging 16.3 in eight conference games this season.

Saturday will also be Alumni Day at Titan Field House with former players being recognized at halftime. Tipoff will be at 4 p.m. after the women's basketball game. Admission to Titan Field House is free.