Eastern Florida State College's men's basketball team secured a spot in the FCSAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship with a 90-80 victory over Hillsborough Community College on Saturday. The Titans, who improved to 10-3 in the conference and 21-6 overall, extended their winning streak to nine games with the win in Melbourne. Freshman Sean Register Jr. led the way with 26 points, anchoring a dominant performance that saw the Titans open the game with a 12-0 run.
The game's first half was a rollercoaster. Eastern Florida built a 27-9 lead after a 3-pointer by Nick Oliver midway through the period, but Hillsborough fought back, trimming the deficit to two points by halftime. A 3-pointer by Joviel Acevedo-Arroyo in the final seconds of the first half gave the Titans a 50-48 edge entering the break.
Hillsborough cut the lead to two points early in the second half, but Tyson Wilson's basket sparked a 10-0 run that shifted momentum back to Eastern Florida. The Titans maintained control the rest of the way, outscoring the Hurricanes 46-32 in the second half. The win marks the program's first FCSAA tournament berth since 2021.
Head coach Kevin Smith praised his team's resilience. 'We've been working on consistency all season,' Smith said. 'This win shows we're capable of handling pressure when it matters most.' The Titans will learn their FCSAA tournament bracket next week.