Second Consecutive Record-Breaking Season Concludes for Men’s Basketball

Jacksonville, FL----The Florida State College at Jacksonville Men's Basketball Team (32-5) arrived home after concluding their historic season and run at the NJCAA National Tournament in Danville, Illinois. FSCJ went 3-1 at the national tournament with victories over nationally ranked No. 16 SUNY Niagara out of Sanborn New York 68-64, and dominating performances over No. 10 Bryant and Stratton College from Wauwatosa, WI 81-49, and No. 11 Johnson County Community College from Overland, KS 94-68.

FSCJ concludes the season after earning a record-breaking 32 wins, which is six more than last season's college-record-tying 26 wins. The 58-wins the last two seasons is more than FSCJ's previous seven seasons combined. The February 28^th victory over Pasco-Hernando State College in the first round of the Region 8 Tournament tied last year's 26-win mark, originally set during the 1981-82 season when the college was still named Florida Junior College. The Manta Rays 27^th victory of the season over Palm Beach State in the Region 8 Championship secured their place in the 2025 Gulf South District Championship and as the winningest basketball team in FSCJ's history, whose inaugural season was the 1967-68 academic year.

"We knew when last season ended that we could have an even more special year this season," said sophomore Jordan Smith. "We had so many returners coming back, and we now all knew the standard for winning at the highest level."

FSCJ was red-hot from the season's opening tip-off and went an undefeated 10-0 in the month of November to start the year. Battling through injuries by the end of conference play, the men had amassed a 13-3 record with nine wins over NJCAA Division I opponents. Beginning with January 6^th's 44-point route over NJCAA DI Andrew College, FSCJ won 12 straight games and by an average margin of 32.5 points. The only defeat in conference play was a 3-point overtime loss at Palm Beach State.  

After then defeating Palm Beach State in the FCSAA Region 8 Championship, a rematch was set for the Gulf South District Championship vs Snead State Community College. An automatic bid to the NJCAA National Tournament was on the line again. FSCJ had defeated Snead State in the 2024 Gulf South District Championship 72-69 and again earlier in the 2024-25 season 92-71 during the FSCJ Classic on November 17^th. However, the Manta Rays trailed most of the game until sophomore guard Bennie McDuffie's late game heroics sealed the win and clinched FSCJ its second ever appearance at the national tournament.

With the team's success came many individual honors. Aiden Fletcher was named Region 8's Player of the Year, keeping the award in Jacksonville after FSCJ alum Tarence Guinyard won the award in 2024. Sophomores Smith, Alex McCray, and Eddie Mitchell joined Fletcher on the FCSAA All-Conference First Team. It was the second consecutive appearance for McCray after being named to First Team as a freshman in 2024. FSCJ Men's Basketball earned the FCSAA Region 8 Player of the Week award 12 of a possible 15 times during the 2024-25 season, with Fletcher and McCray earning the honor four times, Mitchell three times, and Smith once. Fletcher, McCray, and Mitchell all earned Region 8 All-Tournament Team with McCray earning the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. At the national tournament, McCray was named to the NJCAA All-Tournament Team.

Aiden Fletcher, Region 8 Player of the Year and Region 8 All-Tournament Team
Sophomore | Guard Orlando, FL.
Played in 35 games...averaging 14.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists...shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 72.5 percent from the line.

Alex McCray, Region 8 All-Conference First Team, Region 8 Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, NJCAA All-Tournament Team
Sophomore | Guard | Gainesville, Fla.
Played in 36 games...averaging 13.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists...shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 74.6 percent from the line.

Eddie Mitchell, Region 8 All-Conference First Team, Region 8 All-Tournament Team
Sophomore | Guard | Decatur, Ala.
Played in 29 games...averaging 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists...shooting 38.9 percent from the floor and 65.8 percent from the line.

Jordan Smith, All-Conference First Team
Sophomore | Guard | Jacksonville, Fla.
Played in 29 games...averaging 13.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game...shooting 48.4 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from three and 77.4 percent from the line.

For the second consecutive season, Head Coach John Putyrski earned both the Region 8 Coach of the Year and the Gulf South District Coach of the Year awards. Words from Coach Putyrski on the historic season for FSCJ:

"Before our season began, we sat in the locker room as a team deciding what our goals for the year should be. Not one person spoke up about any individual awards or honors. The two goals were: have more wins than last year, which would set the school record, and win the national championship.

"They expected the most of themselves and each other, and they showed it morning after morning, practice after practice. Together, this team earned being the best men's basketball team in FSCJ history. Despite failing at our ultimate goal of a national championship, we demonstrated more character and grit than I thought possible. I will always be proud and grateful these young men allowed us to coach them hard as they build bright futures for themselves."

Immediately after their rout of Johnson County and the conclusion of FSCJ's season, the NJCAA announced and awarded Coach Putyrski's team with the national honor of the Fred Pohlman Sportsmanship Award. The award is voted on by tournament personnel—including officials, table crew, media members and tournament workers—to the team at the national tournament who best exemplified qualities of great sportsmanship. To stay up to date with all the happenings on your FSCJ Manta Rays and more exclusive content, follow us on Instagram and X @FSCJMBB.