MELBOURNE, Fla. (Men's Basketball) – In their first overtime game of the 2015-16 season, the Paine College Lions men's basketball team couldn't close the deal against Florida Institute of Technology on Saturday in the Sunshine State Conference vs. Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tip Off. The Lions were defeated by Florida Tech, 94-92.

With the loss, Paine drops to 0-2, overall, to start the season. The Panthers moves to 2-0 for their season.

In the first half, the Lions played close with Florida Tech and would take a 14 point lead with 5:55 left. A steal by Lion newcomer Reginal Shuford and a fast break layup would make the score, 32-18. The half would end with Donald Quarles kissing the ball off the glass with :10 left, 43-32.

The Panthers opened the second half with a jumper by Sam Daniel at the 19:51 mark, 43-34. Paine answered back with three three-point baskets by Arnis Libazs to stretch the lead to 15 points with 18:18 left in the game, 52-37. Florida Tech answered back with layups and capitalized on costly Lion fouls to stay in the game. With :04 left in the second half, the Panthers tied the game and forced overtime when Jordan Majors made a layup, 80-80.

In overtime, the teams traded baskets and tied the score five times. Christian Nobles made a foul that sent the Panther's Jermohn Queen to the free throw line. Queen made both shots and set the final score at 94-92.

Denzel Dillingham led the way for the Lions with 30 points and he was followed by Libazs with 18 points. The leading rebounder was Quarles with 11 boards for the night. Nobles kept the table set with six assists. Libazs, Kaderious Compton, and Arnold Okechukwu each recorded a block. Patrick Petty had a nose for the ball with a team-high four steals.

Collectively, the Lions finished the game with 33 rebounds, 17 assists, 19 steals, and three blocks. The team was 52.1 percent from the field, 43.5 percent from the arc, and 57.1 percent from the free throw line.

Florida Tech was led by Patrick Anderson with 20 points. He was followed by Corbin Jackson with 17, Daniel with 16, and Majors with 15. Jackson was the rebound leader with 15 boards. Majors had a team-high five assists.

As a team, the Panthers has 43 rebounds, 18 assists, nine steals, and six blocks. The team was 50.7 percent from the field, 25 percent from three point range, and 72.7 percent from the free throw line.

Paine will return to action on Nov. 18 as they travel to face the University of South Carolina-Aiken at 7 p.m.