Box Score
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – First-year guards
E.J. Moody and
Jerrick Stevenson combined for 26 points as the Eckerd College men's basketball team took care of business on the road against non-conference foe Palm Beach Atlantic University, 68-60.
Sophomore forward
Malcolm Brunner Jr. was also in double-figures with 12 to go with a pair of blocked shots and senior forward
Darrien Mack added nine points and three rejections of his own.
The Tritons (11-4, 4-3 SSC) overcame a 9-2 run by their opponent to begin the afternoon, charging back to lead by as many as 14 in the second half.
Despite persisting season struggles and a rotating number of regulars absent from the starting lineup, the Sailfish (1-16 overall) have repeatedly played opponents close, many from the Sunshine State Conference, respectively.
Palm Beach Atlantic began the game by hitting its first four tries from the field, a stark contrast to a frustrating seven misses in the first eight shots for the Tritons.
PBA's Nate Vera hit a three on the opening possession and Marcus Hardy roamed the interior for three straight layups in the first five minutes of play.
The Tritons countered in the form of Moody as he scored nine of the team's first 16 points, his third three of the opening period giving the Tritons their first lead of the game with 4:12 left until the intermission.
That triggered an 11-5 run to end the half as the Tritons headed to the locker room with a 27-19 edge.
Also in the first half, Stevenson whipped down a one-handed jam on the break as PBA was slow to get back off its made shot, reminiscent to his throwdowns in exhibition action against the Chilean National Team and the University of South Florida.
Stevenson then hit a long three early in the second half that put the Tritons up by 11, but the Sailfish assembled a 7-0 run to trim it down to a four-point margin. He scored eight of his 10 points in the second half.
Two minutes later, Moody scored five consecutive points to restore the double-digit Eckerd advantage, dropping in his fourth three and capitalizing on a fast break with the jumper.
Midway through the second half, junior guard
Alex Bodney gave the Tritons their largest lead at 14.
It was Brunner Jr.'s turn inside the final three minutes as he made a layup and converted a three-point play for added insurance down the stretch.
PBA's last rally attempt got the Sailfish to within six with 26 seconds left. The Sailfish were led by 16 points from Salim Fauras, who was 6-of-7 shooting.
The Tritons finished the game shooting 50 percent from the field as a team.
Eckerd remains on the road next week to pick up the SSC schedule on Wednesday. The Tritons will head to Lynn University for a 7:30 p.m. contest.
