Score: Keiser 78, Johnson & Wales 65
Records: Keiser (23-8), Johnson & Wales (12-14)
Location: Student Life Center, West Palm Beach, Fla.
KU Starters: Whittaker (G), Sarenac (G), Jenkins (G), Zecevic (F), McClenton (C)
JWU Starters: Medina (G), Fils-Aime (G), Robinson (F), Suarez (F), Marcelin (F)
 
KU HIGHLIGHTS
-   Stanley Whittaker picked up his first triple-double of the year and the third of his career this evening. Whittaker finished the contest with 20 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds.
- Deion McClenton picked up his 1,000^th career point this evening with his basket at the 10:05 mark of the first half of play.
- Stefan Zecevic had a near double-double with 16 points and eight rebounds.
 
TURNING POINT
The turning point occurred when Johnson & Wales got to within 60-57 at the 6:12 mark but the Seahawks caught fire and ended the game outscoring the Wildcats 16-8 to win the game by a final of 78-65.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Johnson & Wales jumped out to a 13-4 advantage at the 14:48 mark and the first media timeout.
- The Wildcats continued to hold a nine point lead at 18-9 when a Whittaker layup started an 8-0 run to get within 18-17, forcing Johnson & Wales into a timeout with 10:04 showing.
- A pair of Whittaker free throws gave the Seahawks their first lead at 19-18 but a Gino Fils-Aime three pointer put JWU back ahead 21-19.
-Andrija Sarenac matched with a three pointer of his own to regain a 22-21 lead, when the Wildcats split at the line to tie the game at 22-22 with 7:36 remaining.
- After four lead changes, a Zecevic layup and McClenton put back pushed the margin to 29-26 with 5:29 left in the first half.
- JWU cut the deficit to 29-28 when back to back threes by Trystan Pratapas and Sarenac gave the Seahawks their largest lead of the half at 34-28.
- The Wildcats closed the half on a 7-0 run capped by a three pointer with two seconds left to lead 35-34 at the half.
- Neither team scored a basket over the first three minutes, when Jonathan Lafontant hit a jumper to lead 37-34.
- Johnson & Wales raised the margin to 41-36 when a pair of Brice Jenkins free throws started a 5-0 run to knot the game at 41-41 with 14:40 left in regulation.
- Over the next four minutes, the Wildcats kept a slim two point advantage despite the Seahawks tying it three times. A massive alley-oop by McClenton gave Keiser their first lead of the second half at 49-47 with 10:12 to go.
- The next four minutes, saw four lead changes and two ties of no lead greater than one before a breakaway dunk by McClenton and a Whittaker floater in the paint raised the lead to 62-57 with 5:20 left in the contest.
- The Seahawks went on to close the game outscoring JWU 16-8 to win the game by a final of 78-65 and advance to the Sun Conference semifinals.
 
TEAM LEADERS
Keiser University
Points: Whittaker, 20
Rebounds: Whittaker, 11
Assists:  Whittaker, 13
 
Johnson & Wales
Points: Robinson, 19
Rebounds: Robinson, 5
Assists: Suarez, 4
 
Ties: 8
Lead Changes: 15
Largest Lead: Keiser (14), Johnson & Wales (9)
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Seahawks shot 43.3 percent from the field.
- Keiser outrebounded JWU 40-28.
 
UP NEXT
The Seahawks will head down to Florida Memorial on Monday evening for the Sun Conference semifinals at 7:00 PM. Keiser will face the top overall seed in the Lions of Florida Memorial.