LAKELAND, Fla. - The Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball team defeated # 21 Florida Southern today (Nov. 27) 75-70 in their second game of the Florida Southern Thanksgiving Classic. 

The Mocs scored the opening basket of the game, however the Cardinals quickly knotted the score and took the lead at the 17:43 mark on a Dan Genther (Laingsburg, Mich. / Laingsburg HS) jump shot.  Saginaw Valley would hold a 13-point advantage over Florida Southern as Genther sank a three-point shot to give the Cardinals a 30-17 lead and entered the locker room with an 11-point lead, 38-27 at halftime.  Genther would end the game with 17 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Florida Southern came out strong in the second half and took the lead, sinking two free-throws to take a 46-45 lead over the Cardinals with 12:52 remaining in the game. Saginaw Valley would knot the score at 57 as Genther connected on one-of-two free throws and took the lead as sophomore forward Jay Thames (Port Huron, Mich./Port Huron Northern HS) made a pair of free-throws.  The Mocs were able to come within one point of the Cardinals with under one minute of play left, but were unsuccessful as Saginaw Valley went onto victory, 75-70.

Leading the way for the Cardinals was Meijer "Player of the Game" sophomore guard Chris Webb (Saginaw, Mich./Arthur Hill HS) who had a game-high 24 points and posted four rebounds, five assists and had three steals.  Thames would end the game with 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

With the win, Saginaw Valley moves to 3-1 overall on the season while Florida Southern falls to 3-3 overall on the season.  The Cardinals will return to action next week (Dec. 2) as they host Lake Superior State University in their first GLIAC match-up of the 2010-11 season.  Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm.