ST. AUGUSTINE – Dennis Diaz scored a team-high 25 points as he led four Flagler College players in double-figures in an 89-79 come-from-behind win over Armstrong State University in a Peach Belt Conference men's basketball game Wednesday night at Flagler Gymnasium. Diaz was one of five seniors honored before the game: along with Desmond Gibson, Jerrell Oxendine, Lydell Manigo and student manager Chris Gray.
 
Flagler snapped a five-game losing streak and closed the season with a 10-16 record and a 5-14 mark in the Peach Belt. Armstrong ends its season on an eight-game losing streak and finishes 6-19 overall and 4-15 in conference play.

Diaz made 7 of 17 from the field, including making three 3-pointers and was a perfect 8 for 8 from the free throw line in his final game. Oxendine tallied 22 points and dished out a game-high eight assists for the Saints. Matt Clark came off the bench to add 19 points, including his 1,000^th-point in his career late in the second half. Manigo finished his career with a solid 15-point, 9-rebound effort. Kessler Bell corralled nine rebounds while Gibson added eight boards and two blocked shots.  

Flagler took advantage of 15 Armstrong turnovers and cashed those in for 22 points.


The Saints trailed 50-43 with 17:09 left to go and then went on a 24-4 tear over the next 7:21 to take command of the game. Oxendine scored nine points in the spurt and his 3-pointer with 9:29 left game Flagler a 67-54 lead.
 
Armstrong closed to within three (69-66) after a Shema Sabiiti jumper with 6:17 to go, but a layup by Diaz, a dunk by Manigo and a layup by Clark swung the momentum back to Flagler.

Emmanuel Tiluscar scored a game-high 35 points for Armstrong. He added seven rebounds. Cole Fountain tallied 16 points, four rebounds and three steals. Sabiiti grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.