Men's basketball team hosts Jim Grimes Memorial Classic this weekend

The Eastern Florida State College men's basketball team is hosting the third annual Jim Grimes Memorial Classic this weekend at Titan Field House on the Melbourne campus.

The Titans come into the tournament 8-5 overall and have won six straight games after a road win against Palm Beach State College Tuesday night.

The classic will begin Thursday night at 7 p.m. when No. 24-ranked Salt Lake Community College plays the Florida State College at Jacksonville.

Salt Lake is 8-2 overall and has won five straight games heading into the weekend. The Bears are averaging 91 points per game during the win streak, led by the trio of Asa McCord, Justice Hill and Spencer Johnson who all average at least 13 points per game this season.

Florida State College at Jacksonville is 4-5 this season and is led by the trio of Johnny Brown, Eddie Davis and Evan Busby.

The Titans will play at 5 p.m. Friday against Salt Lake who has beaten Eastern Florida State College in the past two meetings including last year in the tournament and earlier this season in Utah.

Eastern Florida State College has held opponents to under 60 points per game during the six-game win streak. Sophomore Osayi Osifo is averaging 10.5 points and seven rebounds per game.

Miami Dade will play Pensacola State College at 7 p.m. Friday in a battle of top 10 teams in the Region 8 Coaches Poll.

Miami Dade comes into the contest 7-3 on the season and is No. 6 in the Region 8 poll. The Sharks are leading Region 8 in points per game this season, averaging almost 100 points per game. Miami Dade has six players averaging at least 11 points per game led by Victor Hart's 18 points per game.

Pensacola is No. 8 in the poll and are 9-2 on the season. The Pirates are led by Carlos Rosario's 13.5 points per game while teammate Bryce Waterman averages 12.3 points.

On Saturday, Pensacola State College will play Salt Lake at noon with the Titans facing Miami Dade at 2 p.m.

"We are absolutely thrilled to host such an outstanding event this weekend, commemorating such an amazing man in coach Grimes," Eastern Florida State College men's basketball coach Jeremy Shulman said. "The level of talent on these teams that will be playing here in Melbourne is absolutely incredible. I hope the entire community comes out to support this event and will get to watch some incredible college basketball."

Admission to games at Titan Field House are free and games will be shown live online on the EFSC Titans YouTube page.