Daytona State men’s basketball rebuilds one game at a time
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Daytona State College men’s basketball team had been ranked in the NJCAA Top 25 every week since November 28 2022, two consecutive years of polling. They’ve been ranked as high as #2 during this time and even started this season as the #3 ranked team in the preseason poll.
After two early losses on the road to nationally ranked teams, Daytona dropped out of the NJCAA Top 25 for the first time in two years. First, College of Southern Idaho, then the #16 ranked team in the NJCAA, by 8 points (89-81). A game in which Daytona gave up 29 offensive rebounds. Then, perennial powerhouse and current #20 ranked team NW Florida by 5 points (88-83).
Coach Joey Cantens knew he had put together the right pieces, they just needed some time to find the right fit for them and create the chemistry needed to win those types of games. It seems like they may be on track to rebuilding another championship team.
Two weeks ago, Daytona had two solid wins over Southern Crescent Technical College, 121-44, and USC Salkehatchie,117-65.
This past week, Daytona travelled to Pensacola for the Pensacola State Thanksgiving Classic. The field included 7 teams that were ranked or receiving votes in the Top 25 in NJCAA poll. Daytona State defeated #15 Tallahassee State College 97-78 and RV Gulf Coast State College 87-66 to improve their record to 7-2 on the season.
Daytona is averaging 101 points per game, 5th in the nation. They average 39 field goals made per game, 4th in the nation. They’re doing it as a team – they average 24 assists per game. Most importantly, they are forcing opponents into more than 19 turnovers per game and are out rebounding their opponents by more than 9 rebounds per game.
Daytona has two players that are first in statistical categories in the NJCAA Jaylin Payne leads the nation in field goal percent making 80.7% of his attempts. Tyrese Lacey leads the NJCAA in assists per game at 9.3 and an assist/TO ratio of 6 to1. He also averages 2.5 steals per game.
Game Summaries:
Daytona State College 87 – (RV) Gulf Coast State College 66
Daytona State improved to 6-2 with their 87-66 win over Gulf Coast (7-2) who received votes in the latest NJCAA national poll.
Daytona led by 1 point at the half, 39-38, but held Gulf Coast to just 28 points in the second half on only 11 made field goals. The Daytona defense finished with 8 steals, 8 blocks and forced 17 turnovers to hold Gulf Coast to their lowest points scored of the season.
Tyrese Lacey led Daytona with a double-double 12 points, 14 assists and 3 steals.
Daytona finished with a balanced attack having 5 other players score in double figures: Jaylin Payne 16 points, 5 rebounds. Isaiah Dorceus 14 points, 3 assists. Eduardo Placer 12 points. Ryan Bewley 11 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks. Matt Bewley 10 points, 4 rebounds.
Daytona State College 97 – #15 Tallahassee State College 78
Daytona State improves to 7-2 with the 19 point win over #15 ranked Tallahassee State, 97-78. The win is the fifth straight for Daytona and the second in a row against a ranked or receiving votes team.
Daytona finished with 25 assists on 38 made field goals. Defensively, Daytona had 7 steals and forced 16 turnovers.
Jaylin Payne led Daytona with an efficient 22 points making 11-12 field goal attempts. Payne also grabbed 11 rebounds to finish with a double- double.
Tyrese Lacey again directed the Falcon offense and finished with 12 assists, 9 points and 3 steals.
Eddie Placer finished with 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Ryan Bewley 14 points and 6 rebounds. Dylan Diaz 14 points and 3 assists. Isaiah Dorceus had 9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists.
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