LAKELAND — Brett Hanson has been playing some the best basketball of his young Florida Southern career in recent weeks.
For fellow sophomore Jack Rauch, it’s been a struggle.
Luckily for the Mocs, both were on their game against Saint Leo on Wednesday.
Hanson scored 23 points while Rauch finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds as Florida Southern notched its third-straight win, 89-81 against the Lions in front of 329 fans at Jenkins Field House.
“I definitely haven’t been in my rhythm,” Rauch said. “I’ve been pressing too much. I just let the game come to me. I love playing with Brett; Brett is my favorite player I’ve ever played with.”
Hanson entered the game having scored 26, 21 and 24 points in his past three games — two of those Florida Southern (12-8, 6-6 Sunshine State Conference) wins. Rauch hadn’t reached double-figures in four games, dating back to the Mocs’ home loss against Lynn on Jan. 6.
Battling a shoulder injury, he scored efficiently and led the game in rebounding.
Florida Southern put the Lions (9-14, 5-7 SSC) away with a big run late in the second half. Isaiah Hill cut the Mocs’ lead to 70-67 with 8:04 to go. Florida Southern answered with 13 of the game’s next 15 points.
Johnathan Lawton capped the run with a contested 3-pointer to make it 83-69 with 3:43 to go in the game.
“I didn’t see the guys panicking,” said Florida Southern head coach Mike Donnelly. “We tell the guys, ‘It’s time for you guys to step up and make plays.’ We went on that run quickly, which was really good.”
Hanson led the Mocs early with 17 points in the first half. While he was efficient, hitting 7 of his 11 shots, Florida Southern shot just 38 percent outside of that, including a slow 3 of 7 start for leading scorer Jonathan Lawton.
The junior rebounded to finish with 20 points and six assists.
Saint Leo, paced by 12 points of DeAndre King’s 15 points, led by as many as six points in the first half. Rauch finally pushed Southern ahead 43-41 before halftime, hitting three free throws after being fouled on a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left.
Tied in the Sunshine State Conference standings heading into the game, Rauch and Hanson helped Florida Southern inch ahead of the Lions into lone possession of sixth place. The top eight teams qualify for the conference tournament, which will be held at Jenkins Field House.
That duo may be the key to success down the stretch for the Mocs.
“It’s always for us as a team when both of those guys have good nights,” Donnelly said. “Usually, when they do, we play well.”