Box Score
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The sixth-seeded Eckerd College men's basketball program left it all on the court as it exited the NCAA Tournament bracket against No. 2 seed Christian Brothers (Tenn.) University in South Region semifinal action on Sunday, falling by a narrow 60-57 decision.
A last-second three-point shot by senior Lance Kearse hit back iron that would have tied the game and forced overtime.
CBU forward Zack Warner had a monster game with 33 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot to lead his team's charge. The 6-10 forward distributed 16 points in the first half and netted 17 points in the final frame while shooting 14-of-23.
Starting guard Cory McArthy added 12, all from long range, but the Tritons clamped down on co-Gulf South Conference Player of the Year Scott Dennis (6 points, 1-of-9 shooting) and speedy guard Harry Green (2 points, 1-of-7 shooting).
The Tritons (21-9 overall) poured their hearts and souls into the semifinal matchup and left Alabama-Huntsville's Kelly Court with their heads held high, giving the Buccaneers (25-6 overall) all they could handle for the entire 40 minutes.
As an at-large selection into the Big Dance, the Tritons not only validated their selection, but were just one pass, one shot or one possession, away from making the Sweet 16 and playing in Wednesday's South Region Final against the host and top-seeded UAH Chargers.
Eckerd Head Coach Tom Ryan spoke glowingly about the last stand for seniors Kearse and Wayne Sears Jr. along with his team's run in the postseason, which featured a quarterfinal triumph over No. 3 seed University of West Georgia on Saturday afternoon.
“I'm so proud of our guys,” a hoarse Coach Ryan said in his postgame press conference. “Christian Brothers is a very good team. We played a pretty good 40 minutes, not perfect. I'm very proud of this young man (gesturing to Kearse next to him) and Wayne (Sears Jr.). I just can't say enough good things about them.”
“The (final) shot felt good and I was very confident,” Kearse said. “As soon as the ball popped out my college career was over. But coming into today, I thought I would have a good game.”
And Kearse did just that against the Buccaneers, blowing up for 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting in what turned out to be his final encore. Darrien Mack and Walade Wade each scored eight and Sears Jr. had five with Alex Bodney.
There were a total of seven ties and nine lead changes and the Tritons were in front for the final eight minutes of the first half. Woody Taylor banked home a layup to put EC in front with a 33-28 lead.
Sophomore Josh Snodgrass restored the Tritons' five point edge at the 12:15 mark in the second half, but a key three-point play from Warner knotted the game back up a couple minutes later at 44-44.
Dennis tied the game yet again with his lone field goal and Green also went glass for his one made basket with 2:01 remaining in regulation.
A pair of free throws by Bodney gave the Tritons a two-point edge with under five minutes left, but Warner and McArthy keyed a 5-0 run that had CBU back out in front. The Tritons were held to just one field goal in the final five-minute stretch, a layup in transition from Kearse.
Kearse had a good look at the basket with 3.8 seconds left on the clock as the Buccaneers declined to foul despite have two to give before the bonus took effect, but his shot was just offline.
Christian Brothers will face Alabama-Huntsville in Wednesday's South Regional Final, the fourth time the two rivals have met this season.
