MELBOURNE, Fla. - Behind a dominant double-double performance from John Roland and a balanced scoring effort, the Lynn men's basketball team pulled away early and withstood a late push to defeat Claflin, 85-75, on Friday afternoon at the FIT Holiday Classic. The Fighting Knights controlled the glass, pushed the pace in transition, and used a decisive first-half run to build a commanding lead, improving to 8–3 overall on the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Lynn generated multiple early second-chance opportunities behind offensive rebounds from John Roland, but Claflin struck first with back-to-back three-pointers to take a 6-0 lead in the opening two minutes
- Braydon Iuli put Lynn on the board with a strong finish at the rim, and Matthew Puodziukaitis followed with a pair of free throws to keep the Fighting Knights within striking distance
- Iuli pushed the pace in transition, finding Roland for a corner three before Roland finished consecutive fast-break baskets to give Lynn its first lead, 11-8
- Roland dominated the glass during the stretch, converting multiple tip-ins and finishes inside as Lynn extended the run to a 13-0 surge and opened a 15-8 advantage
- After a Claflin timeout, the Fighting Knights continued to apply pressure as JP Baron knocked down a three, Frederiks Meinarts finished a fast-break layup, and Austin Vick added a bucket inside to push the margin to double figures, 22-10
- The Fighting Knights forced consecutive Claflin turnovers late in the half, turning them into transition threes from Bubak and Jacks to stretch the lead to 22 points, 45-23
- Lynn closed the half strong behind balanced scoring and active defense, carrying a commanding 52-30 advantage into the break after holding Claflin scoreless from the field over the final possessions
- Claflin opened the half with an early bucket, but Lynn answered quickly as Roland finished at the rim off an Iuli assist to restore a 22-point cushion, 54-32
- Max Polk found his rhythm from deep, drilling a three at 17:42 and later another at 15:45 as Lynn kept the lead comfortably in the 20s
- Roland continued to control the paint on both ends, adding finishes inside and igniting transition with a steal that led to Polk's fast-break layup, 61-39
- Jacks added a burst in the middle of the half, scoring in transition to make it 70-43 as Lynn's defense forced another Claflin turnover
- Claflin mounted its best push of the night with multiple threes to trim the deficit into single digits late, 79-70
- In the closing minutes, Polk delivered a pair of pivotal baskets, including a fast-break layup off a Roland assist and a finish in the half court to keep Lynn in control, 83-73
- Jacks iced it at the line after a late Claflin turnover, converting two free throws to extend the lead and close out the 85-75 win despite late pressure
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Lynn shot 45.8% from the field and connected on nine three-pointers
- The Fighting Knights controlled the glass with a 49–27 rebounding advantage, including 18 offensive boards
- Roland recorded his fourth double-double of the year with 22 points and 18 rebounds, scoring efficiently around the rim and dominating the paint
- His 18 rebounds are the second-most recorded in a single game in the conference this season
- Bubak finished with 15 points, knocking down timely threes and attacking in transition
- Polk added 14 points, including key baskets during Claflin's second-half push
- Jacks scored 10 points off the bench and helped steady the offense late, also converting key free throws in the final minutes
- Iuli led the team with six assists, consistently pushing the pace and creating scoring chances
- Lynn totaled 20 fast-break points and 50 points in the paint, highlighting its tempo and interior presence
- The Fighting Knights' depth showed with 22 bench points, providing consistent production throughout the game
 
UP NEXT:
The Fighting Knights close the FIT Holiday Classic on Saturday evening when they take on No. 9 Michigan Tech in a primetime matchup set for 7 pm.