LAKELAND, Fla. – The No. 13-ranked Indiana Tech men's basketball team fell to No. 8-ranked Southeastern University, 80-78, on Tuesday evening inside the Furnace.
 
Dylan Phair led all players with 23 points while Darren Groves added 16 points and 12 rebounds to notch his 11^th straight double-double and 12^th of the season. Darnei Hairston chipped in 12 points and five assists while Max Huber had seven points and nine rebounds.
 
Southeastern got out to a 10-5 lead in the first five minutes of the game, but the Warriors came right back with four straight points, all from Groves. An 8-0 run from the Fire put them ahead 27-17 with eight minutes to play in the first while they grew their lead to as many as 13 points in the final stages of the period thanks to an 8-3 spurt. Southeastern would not the Tech get within eight points for the first of the period as they took a 43-35 lead into the locker room at the half.
 
The Orange and Black began the comeback attempt to start the second half as the visitors went on a 10-2 run to go ahead 49-48 at the 14:37 mark following back-to-back baskets from Hairston. The hosts countered with an 11-4 run to retake the lead at 59-53 with 10:40 to play in the game, but the Warriors would keep the deficit in single digits to stay in the game.
 
With the Fire leading 71-64 with 1:11 left on the clock, Tech would snap a 3:28 scoreless drought with a jumper from Hairston to make it a five-point game with 51 seconds remaining. Southeastern would go 9-10 from the free throw line over the final 44 seconds of the game, but Phair would singlehandedly keep the Warriors in the game by hitting four three-pointers in the last 26 seconds of regulation. Phair would hit his last three, his fifth of the night with two seconds left in the game, to bring the Warriors within two points, and while Huber came up with a steal on the ensuing possession, the final horn would sound to hand the Orange and Black the 80-78 defeat.
 
Tech (9-6) returns to action Thursday as they travel down the Sunshine State to Miami Gardens for a matchup with Saint Thomas University. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. from the Fernandez Family Center.