SAINT LEO, Fla. – Trey Griseck hit a 3-pointer with 19 seconds left for his only field goal of the game for the go-ahead points and the Saint Leo Lions rallied for a 75-73 victory over the Benedict College Tigers
on Tuesday night.
Benedict had a 72-68 lead with three minutes left in the game, but made just one free throw, by Quayshun Hawkins with four seconds left, over the final three minutes. Benedict missed its final five field goal attempts.
Saint Leo improved to 7-4, while Benedict fell to 8-3.
Lafonzo Smith led the Tigers with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Jordan Smith added 14 points. Christopher Spencer scored 13 points and Justin Metze had 12 points in his debut with the Tigers.
Tyreece Brice led Saint Leo with 18 points.
Benedict had as much as an 11-point lead, 32-21, with 6:17 to play after a layup by Brennan Reynard, who finished with 10 points and six assists. The Lions cut Benedict’s lead to 40-38 at the half.
The Lions outscored the Tigers 8-2 to start the second half to take their biggest lead of the game, 46-42, with 18:16 on the clock. Benedict surged ahead with an 11-0 run, with seven points from Jordan Smith, for a 53-46 lead with 15:15 left to play.
Benedict led 58-51 with 11:06 left after a layup by Spencer. The Lions regained the lead, 67-66, with 5:10 left to play.
Saint Leo made 13-of-28 3-pointers, while Benedict connected on four of 14 attempts from beyond the arc.
Benedict is at Palm Beach Atlantic on Thursday for a 7:30 p.m. game.
