GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Santa Fe men's basketball and St. Petersburg came down to the wire for the third time this season, and in the Saints' final home game, SF was able to prevail by a 73-67 score in overtime.

With the win, the Saints remained atop the Central Conference standings with one game left to play, and moved to a perfect 15-0 on their home floor during the 2021-2022 season.

First Half – SPC 30, SF 27

The Saints were able to claim a 17-9 lead after back-to-back baskets in the paint from Hasan Abdul-Hakim and Nicolas McClain. Abdul-Hakim had nine quick points in the contest, continuing his form from the victory over Eastern Florida.

The Titans, however, got right back into the game with 11 unanswered points, and it was already evident the two teams would be in a dogfight.

SF led 27-22 when Abdul-Hakim sunk a free-throw, but the final eight points of the half went to SPC.

The Saints shot just 33 percent from the floor in the opening half, but Abdul-Hakim's 12 helped keep them close.

Second Half – SF 58, SPC 58

The second half continued to be a nailbiting, grind-it-out-affair.

The Saints produced the first nine points to take a 36-30 edge, and the six-point lead still held at 46-40 with 9:32 on the clock.

Seven straight points handed the Titans another lead, and after the teams alternated successful offensive trips, it appeared as if SF was in firm control at 58-53 with 1:03 on the clock after a triple from Bradley Douglas.

The Titans canned a corner three in the ensuing possession though to make it a one-possession game once again.

After SF came up empty on the offensive end, the Titans were fouled on a three-pointer with just six seconds left.

Zane Nelson made the first two and had the chance to put SPC ahead 59-58, but his free-throw attempt clanked off the back rim.

SF was unable to get a game-winning attempt up to the rim, and just as in the women's game, the two teams prepared for overtime.

Overtime – SF 73, SPC 67

The Saints played about as good of an overtime as they could have hoped for, turning the Titans over and finishing emphatically on the other end to outscore SPC 15-9 over the final five minutes.

Douglas and Abdul-Hakim were incredible down the stretch, combining for 13 of the Saints' 15 overtime points. Eddie Foster III also had a steal and transition slam for the Saints' cause.

SF led by as many as ten, 69-59 as the clock went under a minute, and despite SPC's attempts to extend the game, the Saints closed it out to an ovation from the home crowd.

Key Statistics

Santa Fe finished the 2021-2022 home portion of the schedule without a blemish in 15 games played and have now won five consecutive games.

The win was Coach Mowry's 400th all-time win as a Head Coach in collegiate basketball. 

Despite a subpar shooting night, the Saints did go 20-of-26 from the free throw line.

Abdul-Hakim led the way, flirting with a triple double with 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven steals while chipping in three blocks for good measure.

Douglas finished with 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Brandon Farmer recorded a 14-point, 13 rebound double-double from the frontcourt.  

Up Next

The Saints (23-5, 11-3 Central) conclude the regular season on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at Polk State College. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Winter Haven, Fla., and a Saints win would secure the Central Conference title for SF.