Box Score LAKELAND, Fla. - It had been a while since the Eckerd men's basketball team had beaten Florida Southern on the Moccasins' home floor. Nine years, to be exact.
But given the fact that the Tritons have already broken records this season, the disposal of that cold streak shouldn't have come as much of a surprise.
Eckerd used a 20-6 run to close out the first half, building enough of a gap to cruise to an 84-70 win over the Moccasins on Saturday night to extend its winning streak to 14 games - the longest active winning streak in NCAA Division II. It also marked the first win for Eckerd against Florida Southern in Lakeland since January 27, 2007.
Entering the night, the defending national champion Moccasins averaged 91 points per game on the season and nearly 95 points per game in their own gym. The Tritons (14-1, 6-0 SSC) held FSC to its second-lowest offensive output of the season and the lowest in the Jenkins Field House.
"Our defense was the key," said EC head coach
Tom Ryan. "We did a good job of contesting shots and keeping their field goal percentage down."
Florida Southern (7-9, 3-3 SSC) did start the game off hot, jumping out to a quick 13-4 lead while Eckerd struggled to get into a rhythm. But the struggle didn't last long as the Tritons went on a 14-3 run to take the lead after a 3-pointer by
Marco Behori.
"They started in a zone and it look a little while to get our bearings," said Ryan. "We started moving the ball well and doing things around the basket."
The first half started and ended the same way - with a pair of Lakeland natives knocking down 3-pointers.
E.J. Moody opened the game with a triple, and
Jerrick Stevenson closed the half with one of his own that gave Eckerd a 14-point lead at the break. Ryan noted the poise of his senior duo tonight as they played in their hometown for the last time in the regular season.
"They've felt pressure of trying to win in front of family before," he said, "but they both played well tonight. It was nice for them to be able to go their hometown and get a win."
Stevenson drained back-to-back 3's early in the second half to push the Eckerd lead to 18, and it later reached as high as 20 points. The Mocs tried to make a run on several occasions but each time, EC had an answer and never let the lead drop below 12 points.
Offensively, the Tritons continued to showcase the balance that makes the team so difficult to defend as six players finished the night in double-figures. Freshman
Drushaun McLaurn led the way with 14 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.
Kevin Walsh added 13 while Stevenson and
Ray Darnell each had 10. Moody and
Obi Kyei both chipped in 10 as Eckerd shot 55.9 percent for the game.
Eckerd returns to the floor on Wednesday, January 13, hosting Lynn University at 7:30 PM.
