Redemption.
The last time Santa Fe College played at home against a Mid-Florida Conference opponent, the team lost. For Wednesday's game, the Saints were hoping for a better ending.
The Saints (18-5, 4-1 MFC) soared over the Falcons of Daytona State College 68-44 on Wednesday.
SFC sophomore guard Aaron Holmes scored 15 points and had four rebounds in the first half, allowing the Saints to lead 32-22 at halftime.
"Aaron did a great job. He is a talented player and can make plays," SFC coach Chris Mowry said. "He had a good night for us."
Holmes, the only player to score in double digits, ended the game with 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a perfect percentage from the free-throw line, making both of his shots.
The Saints lost their last home game against Central Florida Community College on Jan. 21, their only MFC loss in two years. The Saints team that played Wednesday night was far different from the one that played on the same court a week earlier.
"Tonight, defensively, we did a really great job. We rebounded the ball well," Mowry said. "We executed our stuff, and our guys were unselfish. We did a good job pulling away down the stretch."
There were multiple scoring droughts for the Falcons. It took them just less than 15 minutes in the first half to score 10 points. For the last 6:48 of the game, the Saints went on an 11-4 run.
The Falcons shot less than 30 percent from behind the 3-point line and from the field and only managed 53.8 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
SFC sophomores Charlie Lytle and Roderick Emanuel both scored 9 points and shot 4 for 9 from the field, while bench players Marvin Davis and Jake Blakenship provided a combined 14 points.
The Saints will travel east on Saturday to face Florida Community College at Jacksonville at 6 p.m. to begin the second half of conference play.
"Right now, we are tied for first (in the MFC with Central Florida Community College), and now, we have to play everyone again," Mowry said. "We have to be ready for Jacksonville's energy on Saturday."
