Men's basketball team tops Southern Union in Josh Artis Classic

The Eastern Florida State College men's basketball team wrapped up the Josh Artis Classic with a win over Southern Union State Community College Friday afternoon at Titan Field House.

The Titans improved to 10-5 on the season with the 73-70 victory.

Eastern Florida State College trailed by eight at halftime and was down by 10 early in the second half before a 10-2 run made it a two-point game. Southern Union would build it back to but an Andres Burney dunk with 9:01 remaining tied things at 51-51.

Burney would give the Titans the lead 53-51 and Brandon Garcia and Eric Parnell each had big baskets to keep the game tight down the stretch. Burney and Garcia made their free throws in the final minute to solidify the win for the Titans, who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Garcia led the offensive attack with a season-best 21 points while Burney finished with 15 points, all coming in the second half. Parnell had 12 points in the win.

Marcus Hill led the Southern Union attack with a game-high 25 points.

Coastal Alabama-North finished the tournament 2-0 with a win against Pensacola State College in the first game of the day.

Coastal Alabama jumped out to a 26-9 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game as Jequan Pack scored 17 points in those first 10 minutes of the game. The Eagles would go on to pick up the 71-51 victory.

Pensacola State College came fighting back and cut the lead to 11 points heading into halftime and had it down to as many as eight but that would be as close as they would get as Coastal Alabama cruised to a 2-0 tournament.

Pack finished with 21 points while Seth Jones had 12 as 10 players scored in the game for the Eagles. Pensacola State was led by Zondrick Garrett's 15-point performance.

The men's basketball team will open Central Conference play Jan. 7 on the road, playing at Polk State College. They will be back at Titan Field House Jan. 14 for a conference game against Daytona State College.