Men's basketball team loses on final-second shot in conference opener

The Florida State College of Jacksonville scored with 0.5 seconds remaining to top the Eastern Florida State College men's basketball team 60-59 in the Mid-Florida Conference opener Saturday evening at Titan Field House.

Sophomore Nick Alves scored on an in-bounds pass to give the Titans a 59-58 lead with 11 seconds remaining but after a missed shot, Johnny Brown grabbed the rebound and put it in as the final second ran off the clock to give the Blue Wave the win. 

It is the first time the Florida State College-Jacksonville has beaten the Titans since Nov. 10, 2010.

Eastern Florida State College went into halftime with a 32-30 lead but FSC Jacksonville would take the lead early in the second half and held it for much of the half, but the Titans turned up the defense late in the second half and in the final three minutes and Osayi Osifo hit both free throws with 1:43 left to cut the Blue Wave lead to one. After a couple of misses, Alves scored on the inbounds pass.

Osifo finished the game with 17 points while Alves had 13 and Brian Dugazon finished with 11 for the Titans who are now 11-7 overall and 0-1 in the Mid-Florida Conference.

The Titans will travel to the College of Central Florida on Wednesday night and will be back at Titan Field House Saturday afternoon for a 4 p.m. conference game against Daytona State College.