The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior SportsReporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

HIALEAH, Florida — After shooting the lights out in the first half, the Florida National University Conquistadors powered their way inside in the second half for a 91-57 victory over the College of the Bahamas Caribs men’s basketball team.

It was a completely different contrast from Wednesday night when FNU pulled off a 107-74 rout to open their Florida National University’s Basketball Classic at the Bucky Dent Gymnasium.

“We were just a little more focused this game and so we tried to change things up a bit,” said FNU’s head coach Scott Schmidt. “Our shots started falling early and our focus was there for 40 minutes. We were true to what we focus on every game.”

The Conquistadors, who play out of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association division one, are currently 17-10, while the the Bucs play in the Liga Atletica Interuniversitaria Intercollegiate Athletic Lague of Puerto Rico.

The Caribs, a member of the New Providence Basketball Association, has a 4-11 record for sixth place in the Vince Ferguson Division.

All nine Conquistadors players scored with six in double figures, led by Terric Harris with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Jervis Davis had 13 points, Yves Goedschalk 12 and Quantavis Hall, Brian Smith and Aldor Kola all with 11.

Alvano Laing matched the game high honours with 15 points and eight rebounds to pace the Caribs. Anthony Sands had 11 points, Justin Munroe 10 points and five rebounds and Justin Smith chipped in with nine points.

“For the first two games, I felt we played hard, but I think in the last game, we were just too tired from the last rest (with Friday off),” said Justin Smith, the scoring guard.

“The first game we came right off the plane and I so I guess we were a little tired. But I still think we played our heart out in all three games.”

It was the third straight loss for COB, who also dropped a 91-82 overtime decision to the University of the Virgin Islands on Thursday night. They went on the trip riding a three-game winning streak in the New Providence Basketball Association.

But head coach Bacchus Rolle said they just simply allowed the Conquistadors to run away with the game, winning their rematch by one more point than the 33-point margin in game one.

“We were not devastated by their inside scoring. They had a big guy who threw his weight around and he really got to us,” Rolle said. “But I think what really killed us was getting back on the transitional defence and finding the open man.

“We were very lackadaisical with that and we ended up paying the price. Unfortunately, they killed us with the fast break points. They don’t show up in the stats. I also think some of our guys may have checked out in the third, but I still hold firm to the fact that they are better than us, but not 30 points better.”

Conquistadors opened the game on a three pointer from O’Rourke and Davis added a layup. The Caribs came within one, 5-4, on consecutive baskets from Laing and Sands.

But after a time out, the Conquistadors went on a 10-2 spurt, highlighted by three-pointers from Davis and Quantavis Hall to extend their lead to 15-5 in the first four minutes.

At 14:52, O’Rourke completed a three-point play for a 21-10 lead and at 10:38, Uribe and O’Rourke hit back-to-back treys for a 31-10 lead. The Caribs answered with Laing and Smith scoring on the inside on two straight layups for a 36-14 deficit.

After a scoring drought, Smith powered inside for a three-point play but the Conquistadors got a three-pointer from Brian Smith to keep the lead to 45-25 with about four minutes on the clock.

The Caribs, whose turnovers doubled their opponents, trailed 50-27 at the half as the Conquistadors shot 8-of-19 from behind the arch and held a 21-14 advantage on the boards. All nine Conquistadors in uniform scored at the break and seven of the 10 COB players got in the book.

When they returned action, the Caribs went on a 9-2 run for a 52-34 deficit as Laing started it with a layup and ended it converting two free throws. But the Conquistadors turned the tables, taking the ball inside to go back up 64-35 on a 12-1 spurt at 14:13.

With 6:52 left, the Conquistadors opened a 78-47 advantage as they continued to pack it inside. At 2:50, the Conquistadors extended their lead to 88-55. From there it was just a matter of what the final score would be.

“At first we played hard, but at the end, we got tired,” said Laing, who made his presence felt in the frontcourt at forward. “We forgot what we were playing for and our mind started to slip. That was it.”

Point guard Anthony Sands admitted that their lack of fitness played a key factor in their downfall.

“We didn’t execute the way we should have all the time that we should have,” he said. “More than anything, I think this trip taught us how we ought to do things better all the time.”

Everyone, however, agreed that as a result of the experience and exposure gained, the Caribs men’s basketball team will only play much better together as a team.