GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Santa Fe College men's basketball put on perhaps the season's best performance, handing the visiting Hillsborough Hawks just their second loss this season in lopsided fashion, 86-65.

It was the third and final matchup between the two teams in 2022-2023, and although the Hawks came into the day's play with two wins over the Saints, Santa Fe dominated play in all facets.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

HCC scored the game's first six points, but SF quickly came alive with an 11-0 run. Jalen Speer and Kordell Brown led the surge, with seven and four points apiece, respectively.

SF opened up a lead as large as 18 points in the opening half, and the Saints would never face another deficit the rest of the way.

The hosts went into the halftime break leading 42-28, holding Hillsborough to just 29.7 percent shooting as compared to the SF 52.9 percent mark. Speer had already reached 11 points after the opening 20 minutes of play.

The second half was more of the same, as the Saints remained in complete contr

Hillsborough never got any closer than 13 points the rest of the way, and it was a 26-point drubbing with 12:39 on the clock, the largest gap of the contest.

SF was able to coast the rest of the way for win No. 7 in nonconference play. 

UPDATED RECORDS

Hillsborough – 13-2

Santa Fe – 7-5

STATISTICS

Hillsborough's 65 points tied their season-low output, both of which came in their lone two losses.

Santa Fe went 34-of-69 from the floor for a 49.3 percent mark, and hit 11 triples. Hillsborough was held to a poor shooting night at 31.5 percent.

The rebounding battle was won by the Saints, 48-41.

Nasir Mann had a double-double with game-highs in points (17) and rebounds (13), which included several highlight reel throw downs.

Mann was one of four Saints to reach double-digits, with Speer finishing with 16, Brown 14, and Nigel Martin 13. Brown had nine rebounds from the interior.

UP NEXT

The Saints will play their final game of the 2022 calendar year on Thursday night inside the SF Gymnasium, when SF hosts Florida Gateway at 7:00 p.m.

SF beat FGC 99-90 in double overtime on Nov. 30 in Lake City, Fla.