The Miami Dade Sharks men's basketball team went toe to toe with the 2nd ranked team in the nation Saturday evening, but a strong night by Panov proved to be the difference. The Sharks drop to 9-7 while the Falcons keep their perfect record at 17-0.
The Sharks got the scoring started Saturday, thanks to a three pointer by freshman Caleb Hannah, unfortunately this is the only lead the Sharks would hold in this game. Daytona State proceeded to go on a 11-2 run. Big man Victor Panov got to work down low in the post, extending the lead for the Falcons to 7. Latimer answered back with a three, but Panov returned the favor by hitting a three of his own. The Sharks were able to cut the deficit down to one thanks to Latimer and Morris which forced the Falcons to take a timeout. Immediately after the timeout, guard Isaiah Dorceus pulled down a board and took it coast to coast to once again increase the lead. The Falcons then went on a 12-2 run to put the score at 39-23 with 2:27 remaining in the first half. Miami Dade then scored 7 straight to make the score 39-30 going into the second half.
Both teams would go back and forth to start the second half the second half but a three pointer by Kylin Green would push the lead to 12 for the Falcons. Daytona would keep this lead until the 13:23 mark when Shane Lancaster hit a corner three pointer. An offensive rebound by the Falcons led to another three pointer from Panov. The Falcons outrebounded the Sharks on the offensive glass 17 to 6 and took advantage of it by scoring 19 second chance points to the Sharks 8. Lancaster would hit the long ball again to make the score 60-53 but the Falcons seemed to slowly pull away. With 4:51 remaining in the second half, Josue Grullon would hit a jumper from the elbow to force Head Coach Jorge Fernandez to take a timeout. Following the timeout, Gerokostas and Hannah would make a pair of layups to bring the game back within reach. After a couple empty possessions by the Sharks, Huascar Cuevas would hit the dagger to put the game 76-66.
The Sharks will look to bounce back next Wednesday when they take on St Petersburg College. The game is slated for Wednesday, January 17 at 7:30 PM.