ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd College men's basketball program is gearing up to face yet another nationally-ranked opponent when Saint Leo University visits the McArthur Center for an appetizing Sunshine State Conference battle on the menu tomorrow evening at 7:30 p.m.
The Tritons (9-4, 3-3 SSC) will be facing their fourth conference opponent this season either currently ranked or that has been in the NABC Top-25 Coaches Poll, including No. 20 Florida Southern College, No. 20 University of Tampa and a Rollins College squad that is currently No. 24 in the country.
Saint Leo was ranked No. 21 in the previous national poll.
In 2011-12, Eckerd and Saint Leo set the precedent for a burgeoning rivalry after a compelling split during the regular season led to a showdown in the Florida Blue SSC Championship semifinals in Lakeland.
EC emerged with a one-point home victory before falling on the road in the Bowman Center to the set stage for the postseason matchup.
The Tritons were eventually ousted by the Lions and made Selection Sunday for March Madness a bit unsettling before EC punched the program's 10th appearance in the NCAA Championship South Regional with an at-large selection.
“Tomorrow night is going to be an exciting matchup for two good teams,” junior guard
Alex Bodney said. “It's going to be a dogfight for both sides.”
Senior forward
Darrien Mack is vying for his third consecutive weekly league honor after averaging 24 points and 11.5 rebounds per game in his latest weekly stretch.
The versatile swingman Mack is quietly putting a résumé together for a run at SSC Player of the Year contention, ranking fifth in the SSC in scoring (17.2 ppg), first in rebounding (7.8 rpg), third in field goal percentage (54.4) and fifth in steals (2.3 spg).
His four-year teammate, point guard
Woody Taylor, is also near the top in several key underrated categories, rating second in assists, first in free-throw percentage (perfect 24-for-24), third in assist-to-turnover ratio and seventh in steals.
Taylor also ranks in the top 10 among all players in minutes played. Bodney ranks second on the team in scoring with an 11.4 average, including a near-40 percent shooting rate from beyond the arc.
Junior starting guard
Josh Snodgrass (foot) has been sidelined for the past two games. Freshman
Jerrick Stevenson has earned the starting nod in his absence.
The Lions (12-3, 5-1 SSC) have been pushed to overtime in their last three contests -- emerging as victors against Florida Tech and Barry, but coming up just short versus the University of Tampa.
Saint Leo is led by crafty point guard Marcus Ruh, currently second in the SSC in scoring at 17.9 points per game. Trent Thomas and Jerrel Harris add extra dimensions to a dangerous backcourt, combining to put up almost 28 points each game.
Statistically speaking, Saint Leo is at the bottom of the conference in rebounding margin, but are holding teams to just 38.7 percent shooting from the field, first in the SSC.
After running into a minor buzz saw in the Fresh Coast Classic over the Christmas layover in Wisconsin, the Lions are winners of nine of their last 10.
Live stats and video/audio will be streamed for the game on EckerdTritons.com. The tip will follow the completion of the women's contest slated to begin at 5:30 p.m.
