Score: Keiser 62, University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) 59
Records: Keiser (1-1), UVI (0-1)
Location: Sports and Fitness Center, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Keiser Starters: Radulovic (G), Fisher (G), Soto (G), Orlic (F), Matic (F)
UVI Starters: Goss (G), Cardwell (G), Gilmore (F), Bush (F), Jackson (C)

Keiser Highlights

• Andrija Matic had 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 2-of-3 from downtown to go along with a game-high 14 rebounds, eight of which came on the offensive end. The senior forward also led the Seahawks defensively with two blocks and two steals.
• Marko Radulovic joined Matic with a double-double, contributing 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting (3-of-5 from beyond the arc) while corralling 10 defensive rebounds.
• CJ Fisher chipped in with 11 points and found his mark on 2-of-3 shots from three point territory.
• Javen Soto had a well-rounded box score in 35 minutes played with nine points and eight rebounds.

 
Turning Point
CJ Fisher hit two three-pointers in the game, with his final once coming in the last minute to help Keiser regain a lead and hold on for the season's first victory.
 
How it Happened

• Keiser used a 16-1 run to erase an early 4-0 deficit, capped off by one of the three triples in the game from Radulovic with 12:25 to play in the first half.
• UVI cut its deficit to single digits, 18-9, but KU responded with a 7-0 run to build a healthy 25-9 advantage.
• After a transition layup from UVI, Keiser continued to enforce its will by scoring ten consecutive points, adding up to what was a 17-2 stretch of play for KU to build the largest lead of the game, 35-11, with 4:01 on the clock.
• However, a 13-4 UVI run concluded the opening half with the score at 39-24 in favor of Keiser at the intermission.
• The teams seesawed back and forth until UVI drew all the way to within a possession at 52-50, the closest the Buccaneers had been since 15:58 in the first half.
• Keiser scored five of the next seven points to grab a 57-52 lead with 5:41 left to play, but UVI countered with seven unanswered points to take their first lead since the opening two minutes of the game, 59-57, with 1:55 to play.
• Fisher's aforementioned three-pointer turned the tide as he found his mark with 41 seconds left to put the Seahawks ahead 60-59.
• The Seahawks defense then earned the crucial stop it needed by forcing a turnover on UVI's next time down the court.
•  With ten seconds remaining, Ryan Kroll was intentionally fouled, and he calmly sank both to make it a three-point ballgame.
• Kobie Johnson of UVI attempted to tie the game, but his three-point attempt went awry.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Keiser's three-point accuracy far and away surpassed UVI's. The Seahawks went 7-of-13 from deep while UVI made just 3-of-24.
• Keiser held a 42-39 edge in the rebounding battle, and had 18 second chance points as compared to UVI's 13.
• The Seahawks played aggressively and made it to the line for 26 attempts, converting 17 of them.

Game Notes

• The game concluded Keiser's trip to the Virgin Islands, as the Seahawks started the 2018-2019 season with a record of 1-1. 
   

Ties: 2
Lead Changes: 3
Largest Lead: Keiser (24), UVI (4)
 
Team Leaders
Keiser
Points: Matic (21)
Rebounds: Matic (14)
Assists: Fisher, Radulovic, Matic (2)
 
UVI
Points: Bush (18)
Rebounds: Cardwell (10)
Assists: Cardwell (4)
 
Up Next
Florida National University (4-3) is up next for Keiser (1-1), and the two teams will tip-off on Monday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Bucky Dent Center in Hialeah, Fla.