ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- Sophomore
JP Baron and graduate student
Carson Smith put on a show in the final game of the 2024-25 regular season, propelling the Fighting Knights to a big-time 110-73 victory over Eckerd Saturday evening. Baron shot lights-out with a season-high 25 points while Smith added an impressive 23 of his own.
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The Blue and White finished up the regular season with a 19-7 overall record and 14-6 Sunshine State Conference record. Lynn enters post-season play as the number-three seed in the SSC tournament, which kicks off on Tuesday.
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Sveinn Birgisson got things started for the Fighting Knights with a quick layup to go up 2-0 early in the first half.
- Baron got the party started, connecting on back-to-back threes to give Lynn a 12-point lead by the 15 minute mark, 16-4.
- Smith kept the momentum with the Blue and White also sinking back-to-back threes to put Lynn up by 18, 22-4.
- Eckerd began to find its footing offensively, striking for a 10-4 run to cut into Lynn's lead, 26-14.
- Birgisson struck for a five-point flurry on a three and a pair of made free-throws to put the Fighting Knights back up by 17, 31-14.
- Wilkins dropped in a three-pointer at the five-minute mark to give the Blue and White a staggering 20-point lead, 38-18.
- The sharpshooting Smith cashed in a last-second three with the clock winding down in the first to send the Fighting Knights into half-time with a 25-point lead, 52-27.
- Â The Fighting Knights picked up where they left off to start the second half as Leo Beath cashed in a three-pointer before Smith rattled in another "trey" to give Lynn a 29-point lead in a hurry, 59-29.
- Smith continued to rain down threes, hitting one at the 15:17 mark to put the Fighting Knights up by 30, 71-41.
- Baron scored nine points down the stretch as Lynn led, 87-49 with just under 10 to play.
- Noah Kattan got in on the action, sinking a three-point bucket before Austin Vick laid down a monstrous dunk to give the Fighting Knights their biggest lead of the evening, 92-49.
- In fitting fashion, Baron capped off his star-making performance with a three to send Lynn home happy with a final score of 110-74.
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FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS:
- Baron (5-6 3PT) and Smith (6-12 3PT) went a combined 12-18 from beyond the arc, shooting lights out. Lynn collectively shot 18-44 from three-point range (40.9%).
- Beath recorded his eighth double-double of the season (12 points / 15 rebounds), tallying back-to-back double-double performances this week alone.
- Smith tied his season-high six three-pointers made in a contest while he has knocked down a shot from deep in every game this season.
- Baron has been finding his groove in the Lynn offense, racking up two or more threes in each of the past four games.
- Six Fighting Knights recorded double-digit points in the win over Eckerd including Baron, Smith, Birgisson, Beath, Osei Price and Jordan Wilkins.
- The Fighting Knights ended the regular season by breaking the 100 point mark for the fourth time this year.
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UP NEXT:
The Blue and White open up the SSC Championship Tournament at home against No. 6-seeded Palm Beach Atlantic on Tuesday, Mar. 4 at 7:00 p.m.