Lakeland, FL – The Webber International Men's Basketball team faced off against SUN Conference opponent Southeastern University in a hard-fought game but fell short, losing 80-60. Despite a strong start and standout performances from Orlando Thomas and Jordan Golden, the Warriors were unable to keep pace with Southeastern's efficient offense and strong second-half push.
In the first half, Webber came out firing, shooting an impressive 55.2% from the field. Thomas led the charge with 13 first-half points, while Golden added 8 points and 6 rebounds. The Warriors built a 4-point lead early but struggled to contain Southeastern's Ahmad Johnson, who scored 12 points in the half. Southeastern rallied late in the half, heading into the break with a 41-32 lead.
The second half saw Southeastern pull away with a combination of efficient shooting and defensive intensity. Johnson continued his stellar performance, finishing the game with 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including three three-pointers. Derek Murphy provided a spark with 13 points and 6-for-6 free-throw shooting, while Amir Brikat dominated the boards with 11 rebounds to go along with 8 points.
Webber's offense struggled in the second half, shooting just 34.5% from the field and 21.4% from three-point range. Southeastern capitalized on turnovers, converting them into 14 points, and maintained their perfect 12-of-12 free-throw shooting throughout the game.
Key performers for Webber included Thomas, who finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Golden, who tallied 16 points and 9 rebounds. Gabriel Sorensen added 9 points and 3 rebounds, while Khalyl Simmons contributed 8 points and 3 assists.
Southeastern's depth proved decisive, with their bench contributing 20 points and key stops. The Fire's largest lead of 20 points came in the final minute as they closed out the game strong.
The Warriors will look to regroup and refocus as they prepare for their next matchup. For updates on Warrior Athletics, visit www.webberathletics.com and follow @WebberAthletics on Twitter and @Webber_Athletics on Instagram.
