Sailfish Hand Fighting Knights Their Third Straight Loss

By: Michael Demyan

The Fighting Knights’ record fell to 10-8. Photo Credit: Lynn Athletic Communications

The Lynn University Fighting Knights went into the second half of Wednesday’s game on the road with an eight-point lead, but their season-high 24 turnovers led to a 62-60 loss against the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish.

Things were not looking good for the Fighting Knights as the Sailfish started the game with a quick run which put them up 7-0. The Fighting Knights answered right back though with a run of their own, giving them an 11-7 lead.

The score continued to stay close until the final seven minutes of the half as their lead grew to 27-19.

The Fighting Knights kept the Sailfish out of reach through the first couple minutes of the second half, but consecutive three-point shots from Bakari Warthen and Lucas Morales brought them up to within four points. A three-pointer from Shavanno Cooper put the Sailfish back on top 36-35.

For the rest of the game, neither team held a lead of more than five points as both sides continued to fight for the Sunshine State Conference victory. Every time it looked like one of them was building momentum, the other would catch right back up.

With 2:40 left in the game, the Fighting Knight’s Marquan Botley made a three-pointer to extend their lead to four, but in just over a minute, the Sailfish were able to tie the game at 60 thanks to a layup from Dakota Zinser.

A foul by the Fighting Knight’s Terrell Rogers with 1:23 left sent Michael Stones to the free throw line, who connected for one of his two shots to give the Sailfish the lead again. With the clock winding down, Rogers was forced to commit another foul, which sent Lucas Morales to the line. He shot 1-of-2 as well, but that was all the Sailfish needed as they held on for a 62-60 win, tying them with the Fighting Knights in the SSC standings.

For the Fighting Knights, it was their third straight loss following a stretch when they won eight of nine games.

Their struggles against the Sailfish continued as the loss meant they were swept by them for the second year in a row. Their 24 turnovers were the most in a game since they committed 25 last January, which was also against the Sailfish.

Vieux Kande had a good game however as his 10 points and 10 rebounds gave him his fifth double-double of the season. Kevin O’Brien led the team with 12 points, followed by Botley with 11.

Multiple players also had some career highs in the game. Freshman Kenneth Nwachukwu blocked four shots in his first start and Juwan Frazier had six assists.

For the Sailfish, Warthen led the team with 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Malek Barber recorded eight rebounds.

The Fighting Knights return home for a matchup against Embry-Riddle on Jan. 28 at 4 p.m.