SCF keeps it close, comes up short against St. Pete 72-69

2/4/2012-BRADENTON,FL- Denzel Myers scored 22 points for the State College of Florida basketball team in a 72-69 loss to St. Petersburg College in Suncoast Conference play Saturday night.

The Titans took the lead for good on a 3-point basket from Kenny Bellinger that gave the visitors a 67-64 advantage with 1:10 left in regulation. With the Manatees down by six at 72-66, a trey from Myers with 7.7 seconds to play made it just a one possession game. A St. Pete turnover allowed SCF one more shot to tie the contest, but a desperation shot at the buzzer from beyond half court came up short.

The Manatees led by four at halftime and by as many as seven in the second half before the Titans full-court pressure took its toll. Numerous SCF turnovers against the press brought the Titans back.

“Our guys played extremely hard,” SCF head coach Joe Whelton said. “They put lots of pressure on us and made it tough.  I thought Bobby (Thomas) and Elias (Gutierrez) really played well.”

Gutierrez finished the game with 14 points while Thomas added 12. Odi Onyekachukwu dropped in 10 for SCF (6-16, 1-3).  

The Manatees will host Hillsborough CC at Hal Chasey Gymnasium Wednesday at 7 p.m.