Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Junior guard
Alex Bodney erupted for a career-high 25 points as the Eckerd College men's basketball program threatened to eclipse the century mark to conclude the St. Petersburg Alliance Sports Series against Tuskegee (Ala.) University on Wednesday night, 97-69.
Bodney led a host of teammates in double-figures on the night, including another personal-best 19 (18 in the second half) from sophomore
Malcolm Brunner Jr. and 14 from freshman
Jerrick Stevenson.
Senior
Darrien Mack contributed a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds to go with four steals and freshman
Ray Darnell scored a career-high 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting.
The Tritons (4-2, 0-1 SSC) shot a sizzling 65 percent from the field in the second half and outscored their opponent 60-42 in the final 20 minutes of play. After leading by 10 against the Golden Tigers (1-7, 0-0 SIAC) at halftime, EC pulled away and led by as many as 29 late in regulation.
Bodney was deadly accurate from all spots on the floor, making four of his five total field goals from long distance and connecting on 11-of-12 attempts from the free throw line. He bested his previous career-best scoring total of 20 points netted last season against Florida Tech (Dec. 3, 2011).
Bodney also handed out five assists, none better than an alley-oop lobbed to Darnell at the rim that gave the Tritons a 20-point cushion early in the second half.
EC took advantage of 33 made free throw shots, nearly 87 percent at the charity stripe as the Golden Tigers racked up 24 fouls.
The Golden Tigers' top two offensive threats, Javier McKinney and Calvin Thomas, came into tonight averaging around a combined 36 points per game. The Tritons bottled up the lightning-quick guards and frustrated them into a combined 6-of-32 shooting on the night.
Eckerd grabbed its first double-digit lead in the first half when Mack intercepted a pass at midcourt and flew in for a two-handed slam with 6:33 before halftime. He restored the 10-point lead with another dunk before the break.
Unfortunately, Mack exited the game later after falling hard on his back following a blocked shot.
The Tritons put together an 11-4 run immediately after halftime and led by 17 after a three by Stevenson.
After Darnell's converted alley-oop off glass, Brunner Jr. made four consecutive free throws in the midst of another strong run that translated into a 26-point edge midway through the second half.
Brunner Jr. was 6-of-7 from the field in the final period alone and swatted a pair of shots on the night. The sophomore shattered his previous-best scoring total of 10 points as a freshman against Brock University (Dec. 30, 2011).
The Tritons had success breaking through full-court pressure applied by the Golden Tigers as foul trouble slowed the game down in the second half. EC held Tuskegee to just 26 percent shooting in the final frame.
A pair of free throws by sophomore
Dino Tabakovic gave EC its largest lead with 1:01 left to play.
The Tritons will head their separate ways to enjoy the holiday break before returning to compete in the University of Tampa Classic on Dec. 29-30.
