LAKE WALES, Fla. – In the rematch of cross-county rivals, Warner University men's basketball team got revenge on No. 23 Southeastern University in a 65-61 on Saturday afternoon.  The two teams played to a 92-85 overtime game back in December in which the Fire held on for the win.  On Saturday, the Royals used a 14-point halftime lead to outpace the Fire and improve their record to 16-4 overall and 6-4 in The Sun Conference.  The Fire drop to 12-8 and 6-5 in league play.

After Southeastern scored on their opening possession to take a 3-0 lead Brandon Poore and Warren Hall put the Royals up one with back to back buckets.  The rest of the half the Royals were nearly unstoppable shooting 64.3% from the field.  Hall led the Royals' first half scorers with 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting. 

Halfway through the half, Larry Taylor got the Fire within five points, 19-14, with a jumper in the lane.  From there the Royals blew the game open with a 15-2 run down to the 5:32 mark and took a 38-24 lead into halftime. 

The Fire came charging back in the second half and had the Royals' lead down to seven points, 49-42, at the 13:55 mark.  Keevis Tukes pushed the lead back to 10 however, with a three pointer on the Royals' next possession.  Southeastern, led by Andre Winston, responded with a quick 8-0 run to get within two points with 10:27 to go in the game.  Winston led all scorers with 17 points in the second half.

The Fire hung around down the stretch and got to within one point of a time game three times in the final nine minutes.  Jordan Talley narrowed the Warner lead to 60-59 with 1:31 left in the game.  Josh Ellis, who scored nine points in the second half, hit two free throws to push the Warner lead back to three, 62-59.  The Fire were 0-for-2 in their field goal attempts in the final minute while Ellis and Eddie Delegal made five free throws to seal the victory for the Royals.

Warren Hall finished with a team-high 16 points and five rebounds.  Delegal followed with 13 points and five rebounds as well.  Ellis, who had a big second half, totaled 11 points and three assists.

As a team, the Royals shot 57.8% from the field in the game and forced 17 Southeastern turnovers.

The Royals return to action next Tuesday, Feb. 3, in a Sun Conference road showdown with St. Thomas University.  The Royals and Bobcats needed overtime to decide the winner in their previous matchup on Jan. 24.  The Royals won that contest 83-81.  Next Tuesday's game will tip-off at 8 p.m. from the Fernandez Family Center in Miami Gardens, Fla.