Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Senior forward
Darrien Mack scored 20 points and junior guard
Alex Bodney netted 16, but Johnson C. Smith (N.C.) University held on down the stretch to edge the Eckerd College men's basketball program on Monday evening, 67-64.
Senior guard
Woody Taylor scored eight points and handed out six assists for the Tritons (3-2, 0-1 SSC).
The Tritons moved to 1-1 in the three-game St. Petersburg Sports Alliance Series after defeating Shaw (N.C.) University on Saturday. The finale awaits against Tuskegee (Ala.) University on Wednesday night in the McArthur Center at 7:30 p.m.
Emilio Parks had a game-high 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting and pulled down eight rebounds for the Golden Bulls (6-2, 0-0 CIAA). Trevin Parks made 11 free throws as part of his 20 and Terrance Washington was also in double figures with 10.
Eckerd remained within striking distance all evening and following a wild sequence of events in the latter stages, had a tying three-point attempt fall just short at the final horn.
The Tritons only trailed by a deficit as large as six all night, but were never able to take the lead in the final period.
With two minutes left in regulation, a steal and breakaway layup by Bodney made it a one-point game.
On EC's next possession, freshman
Jerrick Stevenson matched a JCSU tip-in with a step-back jumper on the baseline to keep it a one-point margin.
With four seconds left on the shot clock inside a minute remaining in regulation, Trevin Parks was bailed out on the drive by a foul, but missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity at the charity stripe.
The Tritons had their sights set on taking the lead following Parks' miss, but turned the ball over with 22 seconds left. Parks was fouled again, but this time made both free throws, ultimately hurting EC's chances of forcing overtime down by three.
Trevin Parks was 11-of-13 from the free throw line on the night.
After shooting over 44 percent from the field in the first half, the Tritons were a bit down in the final frame, shooting less than 30 percent in the final 20 minutes of action. EC hit five three-point baskets in the first half, but struggled to the tune of 1-for-10 from long range in the second half.
Bodney started strong and scored his team's first five points. He capped a 7-0 run midway through the first half with his second three and used the glass to convert a high degree of difficulty three-point play for a 27-24 lead before halftime.
Trevin Parks nearly beat the first-half buzzer with a three just inside the halfcourt line, but his release was a little too late.
EC enjoyed its largest lead of the evening as freshman
E.J. Moody went glass for a five-point cushion after Bodney's three-point play, but the Golden Bulls went on a 10-0 run to reverse momentum.
Taylor knocked down two three-point field goals, making him 9-of-19 on the season from long range.
