No. 9 Daytona State Puts Powerful Defense On Display in 78-63 Win At Santa Fe College

Gainesville, Fla. — January 7, 2026

Ninth-ranked Daytona State College earned an impressive road victory in Gainesville, FL Wednesday night.  The hard-fought win puts them at 2-0 to begin Citrus Conference Play.

The opening half was a battle from start to finish, with both teams trading baskets and momentum. Santa Fe College edged ahead late and carried a slim 28–27 advantage into the locker room. The game opened up and swung decisively after haltime.

The Falcons turned up the pressure, and it paid off. Aggressive defense led to timely stops and opportunistic offense for Daytona. The Falcons poured in 51 second-half points while holding their opponent to 35. The stout defense ultimately allow the them to breakout and secure a convincing 78–63 final.

Noah Mendy led all scorers with 22 points, while CJ Hall provided a spark from beyond the arc, knocking down four three-pointers on his way to 16 points. Tyrese Lacey directed the offense with efficiency, finishing with a team-high seven assists.

The home team, Santa Fe College, was held 30 points under their average with majore defensive contributions across the Falcons roster. 

With the win, Daytona State improves to 13-3 on the season and currently boasts a six game win streak. The Falcons will look to keep the momentum going as they head southwest Saturday afternoon to face St. Petersburg College at 4:00 PM.