ST. AUGUSTINE – Jerrell Oxendine led five players in double figures with a game-high 22 points and added a career-high 11 assists to complete his first double-double as Flagler College held off a second half rally by the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras 90-87 in a non-conference men's basketball game Monday night at Flagler Gymnasium.

Flagler runs its record to 3-0 while P.R.-Rio Piedras fell to 2-4. The Gallitos had already posted wins this year against Peach Belt Conference favorite University of Montevallo (55-49) and perennial Division II power Western Washington University (91-76).

Oxendine scored 13 of his 22 points in the second half alone. For the game, he made 8 of 14 from the field and sank a pair of three-pointers. Lydell Manigo tallied 17 points and grabbed five rebounds while Matt Clark came off the bench to provide 14 points on 4 of 7 shooting from long range. Dennis Diaz chipped in with 12 points and Desmond Gibson contributed 10 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Kessler Bell tacked on seven points and seven rebounds while De'Aires Tate scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds to go along with a pair of blocked shots.

Flagler shot a steady 53.3% (32-60) from the field in the game, including knocking down 11 treys. The Saints cashed in on the free throw line sinking 83.3% (15-18).

Bryan Martinez and Omar De Jesus led five P.R.-Rio Piedras players in double figures with 13 points apiece. Joseph Hernandez came off the bench to add 11 points and five rebounds while Josue Erazo tallied 10 points and grabbed five boards. Esteban Cordero chipped in with 10 points and six assists.  

The Gallitos trailed by 11 (46-35) at the half, but used a hot shooting (57.6%) second half to get back into the game.


A transition layup by Martinez early in the second half sparked an 11-2 run over a 2:30 minute stretch that got the Gallitos back in the game. Kristian Medina drained a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 53-49.

The Saints extended the lead back to 13 (75-62) after a Clark 3-pointer with 7:47 to go, but the Gallitos would make another run. P.R.-Rio Piedras would go on a 23-11 spurt that ended with a 3-pointer by De Jesus and the Gallitos trailed 86-85 with nine seconds remaining.

But Diaz stepped to the line, after drawing a foul, and calmly sank both free throws to put the Saints back up by three. Manigo then fouled De Jesus after he crossed half-court. De Jesus sank both free throws to trim Flagler's lead to 88-87. Oxendine was fouled on the in-bounds pass with two second left and made both attempts. UPRRP's in-bounds pass to half-court was knocked out of bounds with 1.5 seconds left. The Gallitos were able to get the ball in play, but the shot came after the buzzer and didn't hit the rim.

Flagler will play its final home game before Thanksgiving break on Wednesday (Nov. 26) against the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. The game will tip around 7:30 p.m.