Men's basketball team tops Hillsborough CC on Sophomore Day

The Eastern Florida State College men's basketball team rallied in the second half to defeat Hillsborough Community College in a Citrus Conference game Saturday at Titan Field House.

The No. 14 ranked Titans scored 50 points in the second half to pick up the 83-72 victory and remain tied atop the conference standings with one game remaining. Eastern Florida State College is 13-2 in the conference and 25-4 overall heading into the final conference game Monday at Polk State College.

Hillsborough Community College took advantage of the Titans slow start and led for much of the first half, heading into halftime leading the Titans 39-33.

Down eight early in the second half, Eastern Florida State College went on a 10-0 run and gave them a 44-41 lead. Carlos Cortijo hit a 3-pointer to give the Titans the lead for good with 14:05 remaining in the contest.

The Titans extended the lead with a 13-0 run to take a 17-point lead, 77-60 with 6:05 remaining. Cortijo scored 16 of his career high 18 points in the second half.

Emondrek Erkins-Ford finished with 12 points while Matus Malovec had 11 points and the duo of Owen Aquino and Luca Colceag each had 10 in the win.

Eastern Florida State College has punched its ticket to the FCSAA/Region 8 Tournament beginning March 13 at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.