WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. –
Jerrell Oxendine poured in a game-high 20 points but it wasn't enough as Palm Beach Atlantic University used a second half surge to rally past Flagler College 70-67 in a non-conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Rubin Arena.
Palm Beach Atlantic remains undefeated at 5-0 while Flagler suffered its first loss of the season (5-1). The game was the Saints first on the road after opening with five home games.
Oxendine added seven rebounds with two assists and two steals.
Matt Clark came off the bench to score a season-high 16 points.
Desmond Gibson added six points, grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and blocked a game-high five shots.
Keshaun Hamilton contributed nine points and four rebounds.
Flagler shot 53.6% (15-28) from the field in the first half and rode a 37-28 lead into the break. The Saints were limited to 31% (9-29) shooting in the second half and made just 2 of 14 from long range.
Evin Graham led a balanced scoring attack for the Sailfish with 15 points. He added six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Garet Tucker and Michael Simpson each tallied 12 points. Ronnell Ross tacked on 11 points and eight rebounds. Clark Major came off the bench to grab a game-high 12 rebounds and added seven assists.
PBA struggled to find its mark in the first half shooting at a 28.9% (11-38) clip. The Sailfish warmed up in the second half and shot 50% (17-34). PBA held a 46-28 advantage in points in the paint.
The game featured five ties and seven lead changes. The Sailfish used a 17-6 run midway through the second half to take a 62-52 lead with 5:31 left. Flagler held PBA without a field goal for the next 4:17 and made eight free throws in that time span to tie the game at 65. Oxendine tied the game with 52 seconds left on a dribble-drive into the line and made the layup.
However, Ross hit a jumper with 18 seconds left to seal the game for the Sailfish.
Kessler Bell's three-point shot rimmed out with 10 seconds left and Tucker grabbed the rebound for PBA.
Flagler will break for final exams and return to the court on Dec. 15 against Florida Tech at Flagler Gymnasium at 7 p.m.
