Box Score
MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Trailing by as many as 19 points, the Eckerd College men's basketball program kept the fans restless before eventually falling in a high-scoring affair at Barry University on Saturday, an 80-87 decision.
The Tritons (11-5, 4-3 SSC) surrendered 49 points in the first half, including 19 of Evan White's game-high 25 in the opening frame for the Buccaneers (9-9, 4-3 SSC). White caught fire in the early stages, knocking down five three-point field goals in the first 20 minutes and added two more buckets inside the arc.
Eckerd came into today's contest as winners in six of its last seven games.
Lance Kearse erupted for 28 points in 29 minutes and collected 13 rebounds, his third double-double of the season. Kearse, who has scored in double figures in 15 of EC's 16 games, was 11-of-19 from the floor and made a pair of shots from long range.
Alex Bodney added 13 points and handed out six assists,
Walade Wade recorded 11 points and
Wayne Sears Jr. was also in double-figures with 10.
It was an inauspicious start for the Tritons as a 14-2 run by Barry blew open the doors on a close contest and made the score 39-21 with 7:35 before halftime. White scored nine straight points in the run, connecting on back-to-back-to-back threes.
Bryan Van Cott added another three for good measure to close the run. Still in the first half, Damien Dwaine and White gave Barry a 19-point cushion on respective field goals.
But a bucket by Kearse, consecutive jumpers from
Woody Taylor and a pair of free throws by Bodney had the Tritons well within striking distance, heading into the locker room down 11 as EC ended the first period on an 8-0 run.
The Tritons sliced the deficit into single digits in a hurry, behind by just six after a three by Sears Jr. with plenty of time left to play.
White stretched Barry's lead back to double-digits, but the Tritons ran off a 13-5 run (including five points by
Josh Snodgrass) to trail by just three with 11:30 in regulation.
Just crossing the midway point of the final frame, a Bodney three completed the comeback and the Tritons led for the first time since two minutes into the game.
The Barry lead was restored shortly after a three by Derrick Bolanos and the Bucs made enough free throws down the stretch to thwart EC's final rally.
The Tritons will look to pick up another road win next Wednesday, traveling to Lynn University in Boca Raton. The game is scheduled to get underway around 7:30 p.m., or following the women's contest.
