NCF Men's Basketball held off visiting Baptist University of Florida at home Friday, earning a 91-84 victory.

The Mighty Banyans led wire to wire, but the Eagles tied the game at three different points and pulled within one possession several times.

NCF took a 44-41 lead into halftime and then used a 16-7 run to grow its lead to 60-48 with 14:52 to go. 

That run did not phase the Eagles as Baptist rallied to tie the game at 63 with 11:11 left and at 75 with 7:10 to go, but from there NCF finished the game on a 16-9 run to secure the victory.

Last year's Sun Conference Freshman of the Year, Diego Eslava, exploded for 36 points, shooting 8-for-15 from three. The eight three's where an NCF single-game record.

Giovanni Toscanini added 22 points, shooting 10-for-14 from the field.

Point guard Shawn Lefresne finished with a double-double, scoring 12 points and an NCF single-game record 12 assists, while following one rebound short of a triple-double as he secured a team-high nine rebounds.

NCF will be back in action Saturday in Jacksonville when it takes on North Florida in an exhibition before returning home Wednesday to host No. 8-ranked Ave Maria in its Sun Conference opener at 7 p.m. EST.