February 24, 2006 – MELBOURNE, FL – Winning a conference game is always sweet, but a road win against a nationally ranked opponent in the last regular-season game is honey-coated.

The 71-68 Morehouse defeat of Florida Gulf Coast University also made the 10-hour bus trip from southwest Florida seem like a one-float victory parade.

Close from start to finish, the game featured 14 ties and 11 lead changes. Morehouse trailed most of the first half but tied it up at 34-all at the break. A three-pointer by Will Belton at the 12:49 mark of the second half, put Morehouse up for good.

The rest of the way, the Maroon Tiger defense held off the surging Eagles who fought back gamely, launching two potentially game-tying three-pointers in the final five seconds. Both shots missed their mark and the Maroon Tigers rejoiced.

Overall, the Maroon Tigers defended the three-ball the best they have all season, holding the Eagles to 1-of-22 from Three-point Land.

Four Maroon Tigers scored in double figures, but bench scoring was clearly the difference in the game. Will Belton and Edward Pollard out-scored the FGCU bench 32-23. Belton, who didn’t start but played most of the game at point guard, led the hit parade with a game-high 21 points. The sharp-shooting guard hit 6-of-14 shots, including four three-pointers, and grabbed five rebounds. Pollard, a frequent spark plug off the bench, recorded his third consecutive double digit game with 11 points and six rebounds.

Team scoring leader Brandon Childs closed out his regular season career in grand fashion. Childs hit 8-of-14 shots from the field and recorded 20 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Power forward Peter Price had another solid game with 11 points and five rebounds.

Beau Bauer led FGCU with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Adam Liddell chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds. The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Eagles who fell to 17-12. Though not in the SIAC, the FGCU game was a “designated” conference game for the Maroon Tigers.

Consecutive conference wins – over Clark Atlanta, LeMoyne-Owen and FGCU – should bolster the Maroon Tigers’ confidence entering the SIAC tournament that runs Wednesday through Sunday in Birmingham. The SIAC men’s and women’s championship games will be televised on ESPNU.

Morehouse finishes the season at 16-11 (13-9 SIAC) and, depending on the outcome of games on Saturday, should be the fifth or sixth seed entering the tournament.

For up-to-date scores and tournament information about the tournament, visit the web site www.thesiac.com.