Box Score
MELBOURNE, Fla. – It came down to the final seconds as the Eckerd College men's basketball team outlasted Florida Tech on a neutral court, 79-75, to snap a three-game losing streak on Saturday night at Titan Coliseum on the campus of Eastern Florida State College.
Both teams' coaches and support staff wore sneakers with their game-day attire to support the Coaches vs. Cancer initiative around the Sunshine State Conference to raise awareness for the American Cancer Society.
With just under two minutes remaining, Eckerd (10-8, 3-4 SSC) led Florida Tech (13-5, 3-4 SSC), 72-70. With both teams in the double-bonus, the Panthers' Chris Carter was fouled and sent to the line. Carter sank both free-throws to tie the game at 72 -- the ninth time the score was brought to a tie.
But the Tritons answered with a trey from sophomore
Jerrick Stevenson to take the lead, 75-72, and they would not relinquish the lead again.
Florida Tech's Jermaine Jackson scored on a jumper and a free-throw in the final 13 seconds, but a combined 4-for-4 performance from the free-throw line from senior
Josh Snodgrass and Stevenson secured the win.
Snodgrass made his first appearance on the floor since Dec. 22 after battling an undisclosed injury.
Eckerd was an impressive 75 percent from the free-throw line -- its best performance since collecting its first conference win against Nova Southeastern University on Jan. 4.
The Tritons also collected seven three-pointers on the night, including two from both Stevenson and senior
Alex Bodney.
Stevenson led the Tritons in scoring with a career-high 27 points, and Snodgrass (10), sophomore
E.J. Moody (10) and Bodney (11) each added double-digit contributions.
Stevenson would convert eight of his 13 shots from the field and sank nine of 10 free throws.
Eckerd returns home on next Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m. EST to face Lynn University as it closes out its first round against conference opponents.
Live stats and video will be available for the contest on
www.EckerdTritons.com.
