LAKE WALES, Fla. (Interstat) — Kenny Greenling scored 23 points and grabbed six rebounds as Warner held off visiting Florida National 78-76 in a men’s NAIA basketball game at Turner Athletic Center. The Royals improved to 5-1, while the Conquistadors dropped to 0-1. Warner won the rebounding battle and made enough free throws to protect its home court.

Warner built a 46-41 lead after the first quarter, then Florida National outscored the Royals 35-32 over the rest of the game but could not complete the comeback. The first half featured a fast pace and frequent interior scoring. Rashard Reinhardt opened with a layup, and Jaevien Ervin answered with a layup. Serge Beauvoir hit an early 3-pointer for Florida National, while Greenling and Ervin kept Warner active around the basket. Reginald Reinhardt made three 3-pointers in the first half, and Rashard Reinhardt repeatedly scored at the rim. Greenling answered with layups and free throws, and Ervin added several layups and a dunk. Bryson Castillo and Marcel Pace hit timely 3-pointers for Warner. De’Marion Anderson made two free throws late in the first quarter, Zack Phillips connected from 3-point range for Warner, and Stipe Sokol scored on a tip-in just before the first-quarter horn. Fernando Romero also made a 3-pointer and a layup in the second quarter for Florida National. Ronald Fernandez made two free throws and scored on a layup, and Beauvoir added a layup and a free throw during the first-half exchange. The first half also included free throws from Stipe Sokol, Reginald Reinhardt, Ronald Fernandez and De’Marion Anderson.

Greenling finished with 23 points, six rebounds and one assist in 34 minutes. Ervin added 17 points, five rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes. Kyree McKelton had 16 points, five rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes. Castillo scored 11 points with three rebounds in 40 minutes, and Pace contributed eight points, seven rebounds and four assists in 38 minutes. Warner shot 27 of 51 from the floor, 6 of 20 from 3-point range and 18 of 26 from the free-throw line. The Royals held a 33-23 rebounding advantage, including a 6-3 edge on the offensive glass, and had nine assists and 13 turnovers.

Reginald Reinhardt led Florida National with 17 points, three rebounds, two assists and one block in 33 minutes. Rashard Reinhardt also scored 17 points and added two rebounds and three assists in 36 minutes. Beauvoir had 13 points and four rebounds in 38 minutes, Sokol scored 10 points with five rebounds in 26 minutes, and Fernandez added six points, six rebounds, one assist and one block in 32 minutes. Florida National shot 26 of 52 from the floor, 7 of 17 from 3-point range and 17 of 23 from the free-throw line. The Conquistadors had 23 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and 11 turnovers. Florida National committed 21 fouls, while Warner committed 16.

Warner scored 78 points from 70 possessions, an offensive rating of 110.9. Florida National scored 76 points from 71 possessions, an offensive rating of 107.2. The Conquistadors’ seven 3-pointers and three blocks helped keep the game close, while Warner’s rebounding and free-throw advantages helped offset 13 turnovers. Florida National’s late scoring push fell just short as the Royals protected their home court. Greenling’s work inside and Ervin’s finishing around the rim gave Warner enough balance to answer Florida National’s perimeter scoring. The teams combined for 154 points on 141 possessions.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Warner 75, Florida National 72, while Interstat’s ELO system had projected Warner with an 85.5 percent probability to win.