Box Score
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd College men's basketball program led by as many as 19 in the first half and closed out Palm Beach Atlantic University for its sixth consecutive win on Saturday afternoon, 78-68.
The Tritons (17-5, 10-3 SSC) shot 50 percent from the floor in each half and beat the Sailfish (4-19) for the second time this year.
Lance Kearse bulled his way to 20 points and five rebounds,
Darrien Mack had several fast-break flushes as part of his 15 points and
Drew Fenstermaker was deadly with the jumpshot, adding 12 points in 14 minutes of play.
Woody Taylor harassed PBA with five steals while he and
Alex Bodney each contributed nine points.
Senior
Wayne Sears Jr. climbed to 15th on the all-time scoring list, netting 11 points to move past Keith McLachlan (1978-80). Sears Jr. has 996 points in his prolific career and is primed to pass the 1,000-point milestone in EC's next game against the University of Tampa.
Sears Jr. came into today's game trailing McLachlan by just one point in the career stat.
The Sailfish outscored the Tritons by just two points in the second half while shooting over 65 percent in the final period. PBA closed what had been a seemingly insurmountable deficit to just a one-point game with under seven minutes in regulation.
Former Liberty (Va.) University 6-11 big man Carter McMasters finished with 21 points on 10-of-18 shooting to lead the visitors.
The first half was all Eckerd as the Tritons ran off an 8-0 run and held the Sailfish scoreless for the first five minutes of play. A 12-9 EC lead ballooned after a 15-2 run that made the score 27-11 with plenty of time before halftime.
Bodney rained home a three to double up Palm Beach Atlantic, 34-17, and Kearse slammed home a dunk for what turned out to be the largest lead of the game on the next possession.
With EC holding a 12-point edge at the break, the Sailfish clawed back to single digits in part of seven consecutive points from McMasters. Terrell Terry and McMasters then combined for eight points as EC's breathing room was trimmed to one.
But the Tritons wouldn't give up ground and back-to-back layups from Kearse and Mack put EC in front by six with three minutes to go. PBA was held to just one field goal in the final three minutes as the Tritons won by 10.
With the regular season coming to a close soon, Eckerd will face rival University of Tampa next Wednesday at the Bob Martinez Center for a 7:30 p.m. clash. The Tritons continue to hold possession of first place in the Sunshine State Conference standings.
