MIAMI, Fla. (December 15, 2020) – Despite playing with only six players, the Florida National men’s basketball team gave Bethel (Ind.) (9-2) all it could handle in a 117-98 loss on Tuesday evening.
Four Conquistadors reached double-figures in scoring, including Kenneth Santos, who scored a game-high 33 points on 13-of-31 shooting. The native of San German, Puerto Rico, also grabbed a game-high-tying 18 rebounds while shooting 5-of-15 from 3-point range.
Joining Santos among the team’s leading scorers were J.C. Canahuate and Jose Benitez, who each registered 20 points in the contest. Canahuate shot 8-of-14 from the floor and was 4-of-8 from the free-throw line. He also recorded nine boards, five assists, and one blocked shot. Benitez added 20 points in just 16 minutes of action, shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor (3-of-3 from downtown) while going 5-of-9 from the line. Rounding out the double-digit scorers was Gonzalo Gonzalvo, who contributed 14 points and five rebounds in 32 minutes of action (before fouling out). Hirotaka Ohashi dished out a game-high 11 assists versus the Pilots.
The Conquistadors were forced to play with just four on the court for the final eight minutes following a pair of foul outs in the second half.
For the game, FNU shot 42.0 percent from the floor (37-of-88) and was 11-of-38 from downtown (28.9 percent). Bethel ended the night shooting 43-of-95 from the field (45.3 percent) and made 31.9 percent of its attempts from beyond the arc (15-of-47).
The Pilots held 71-45 advantage in rebounding, including a 22-8 edge on the offensive boards.
The Conquistadors will return to action on Wednesday, December 16, taking on Ave Maria. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
