Men's basketball team falls in conference opener

The Eastern Florida State College men's basketball team opened the Mid-Florida Conference schedule on Saturday afternoon, but it was the College of Central Florida who picked up the win Saturday evening at Titan Field House.

The College of Central Florida went on a run late in the second half to win their fifth straight, defeating the Titans 71-60.

Eastern Florida State College took the lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the first half on a Johnny Bernard basket and led the rest of the first half, heading to the locker room up three, 31-28.

The Titans came out in the second half and led by as many as nine points but the Patriots went on a 16-0 run to take a seven-point lead. It looked like the Titans would get back into the game with 2:27 remaining when Nathanael Jack hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to four but that was as close as Eastern Florida State College would get.

Sophomore Junior Madut led the Titans with 15 points while teammate Jonathan Ned finished with 12 points. Jeremy Sheppard led the Patriots with 26 points marking the third straight game the sophomore has scored 20 or more points.

Eastern Florida State College will hit the road next Saturday, traveling to the Florida State College at Jacksonville for a Mid-Florida Conference game. They will return to Titan Field House Jan. 16, hosting Daytona State College at 7:30 p.m. and it will be Green Dot Night at Titan Field House.