HIALEAH, Fla. (Dec. 6, 2023) – The Florida National University Conquistadors weathered a tough competitor in Keiser University Dec. 6 for a gritty 87-84 win on the road. The Conquistadors (3-4) fell behind early but managed to cut the Seahawks’ (6-3) lead to just 11 before halftime. FNU went on to outscore Keiser 54-40 in the second for its third straight win this season after starting 0-4.
Florida National struggled to get things rolling on offense to start the game, trailing 32-15 after a long-range three from Brandon Farmer. Keiser was shooting with great confidence from the three point line, going 7-13 while FNU connected on just three of 12 attempts from behind the arch. Matthew Robinson knocked down two threes in the frame for a quiet eight-point half and helped the Conquistadors keep Keiser’s lead to single digits with under two minutes left to play. KU got the last laugh, however, on a slam and a buzzer-beating mid-range jumper from Vincent Miszkiewicz to make it a 44-33 affair before both teams headed to the locker rooms for halftime.
In the second half, FNU’s Cameron Johnson and Gary Adams did their part to keep FNU within striking distance. With 13:40 left in the half, an uncontested three from Adams cut KU’s lead to 13, but FNU had no answer for some stellar shooting from Miszkiewicz and Tyler Poindexter, who shot 62% from the three point line halfway through the second half.
Underneath the basket, Jonathan Mills was one of FNU’s sole answers on defense, picking up three blocks midway through the frame. FNU’s defense began fueling its offense, as layups from Robinson and Johnson made it a 67-62 ball game. In that FNU run, both players picked up a steal.
Not only did the defense come alive, but Adams found the bottom of the net on a much-needed three to make it a 70-67 Keiser lead. Poindexter fouled Robinson on three that bounced off the backboard and into the net for an eventual four-point play and a one-point lead for the Conquistadors.
What followed was a tightly competitive three minutes where each team traded blows. Robinson’s breakout half continued with a timely three pointer with under two minutes left to play to tie things up at 81. Robinson gave FNU a two-point lead on the free throw line before Miszkiewicz knocked down only one of his shots from the charity stripe.
This proved to be a costly miss even though Keiser was able to regain possession of the ball and call a timeout with 17 seconds on the clock.
Disciplined defense from FNU forced a missed layup from Tylar Cerez that sent the ball hurling out of bounds, last touched by the Seahawks. This helped to salt the game away for the Conquistadors. KU sent Robinson to line with one second left, where he confidently made it an 87-84 affair.
FNU closed out the game moments later, earning its sixth win over the Seahawks in program history. Robinson and Johnson posted 27 and 24 points, respectively. Adams ended the night with 18 points, while Ray Daniel Parrish had a team-high 10 rebounds to go along with six points.
Up Next: FNU makes the trip to Miami Gardens, Fla., for a 4 p.m. contest versus No. 24 St. Thomas University Dec. 9.
