Defense Keys Falcons' Win Over University of Mobile

TEMPLE TERRACE, Fla. - The Florida College Falcons (7-4, 2-2 SSAC) defeated the University of Mobile Rams (5-3, 2-2 SSAC), 72-65 on Monday night in Conn Gymnasium.

The Falcons had trouble scoring it on the night, so they relied on their defense, which carried them to a big conference win. The 72 points scored by Florida College was 14 points less than their 86 points per game average in SSAC play thus far. The 65 points allowed is a season-low for a conference game.

The Rams started quickly, jumping out to a 15-9 lead after a three-pointer by Tim Collins. The Falcons would go on a 23-3 run over the next 10 minutes to take a 14-point lead with 2 minutes remaining in the 1st half. The 14-point lead would be their largest of the game. The Falcons defense stifled Mobile during that run. Mobile went 12 minutes without a made field goal. An FC turnover with 30 seconds left in the half gave the Rams a cheap bucket to end their field goal drought. The Falcons carried a 32-22 lead into halftime.

The Rams used a 22-7 run to start the 2nd half to take a 5-point lead with 13 minutes remaining in the game.

The game went back and forth from that point on. It featured 8 ties and five lead changes. The second half only had two lead changes. FC took the lead back on an Andrew Voss free throw with 7:47 left in the contest. They would never look back.

The Falcons were led in scoring by senior Jacob Roark, who dropped 18 points and snagged 5 rebounds on (4-8) shooting from deep. Stefan Nakic-Vojnovic had a very solid game, tallying 16 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Matt Simpson had 11 points on (5-6) shooting (all in the first half) in 13 minutes played. Simpson left the game after getting fouled while air-born early in the second half. He did not return.

The Falcons battled foul trouble all game. Andrew Voss fouled out at the end of the game. Voss continued his shot blocking streak, however, swatting 5 shot attempts Monday night.

The Falcons held Mobile to a pedestrian 34.8% from the field and 28.6% from deep. They survived 20 turnovers of their own. The turnovers resulted in the Rams getting 17 more field goal attempts than the Falcons.

"That was a huge, gutsy win by our ballclub over a really good opponent," stated head coach Pat Todd. "Mobile is a tough and physical team. They made us earn everything we got tonight. Joe (Niland) does a terrific job coaching his guys up. They are a first class team in every aspect."

FC is now tied for 4th in the conference at 2-2 with five other teams. The two losses are to the only two undefeated teams left (Stillman & William Carey).

The Falcons head to Boca Raton, Fla. on Wednesday to take on Florida Atlantic University (7-3) in an exhibition game.

After Wednesday's game, the Falcons get some much-needed time to heal and rest. They'll have 13 days until their next game on January 3, versus conference foe, Bethel University (Tenn.).

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