Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd College men's basketball team took home an overtime victory over Rollins College on Saturday night, 64-62.
It was a low scoring affair in the first half for both squads. EC got on the board first with a
Kevin Walsh three pointer. Walsh started the game hitting three consecutive shots from behind the three point line. The game was tied up at 10-10 with 13:40 remaining in the first half.
Altavious Carter broke the tie with a jumper to give his team their first lead of the game.
Ray Darnell gave the Tritons a three point lead off the glass down low with an assist coming from Walsh. EC held a 21-17 lead with 6:34 left on the clock before the Tars went on a run. Rollins finished out the final six minutes of the first half outscoring Eckerd 8-2 to take a 25-23 lead into the locker room.
E.J. Moody started the second half off hitting an open jumper to tie it up 25-25. The Tritons held the lead until the 6:40 mark when Rollins took a 44-43 lead.
Jerrick Stevenson came up clutch from the free throw line down the stretch going 4 for 4 in two trips to knot the game up 49-49 with 3:05 left in regulation.
Stevenson hit a go ahead jumper to put his team up two with less than a minute remaining on the clock. The Tars managed to get to the line and tie the game with seconds left in regulation sending the game into overtime.
Darnell opened up OT with a hard fought two points off the glass drawing the foul. The forward knocked down his free throw to complete the three point play. The Tars Jeff Merton answered with a game tying three on Rollins next possession.
Malcolm Brunner Jr. threw down a monster dunk that sent the Eckerd crowd to their feet. After a Rollins layup Walsh was fouled attempting a three sending him to the line. The sophomore went 2 for 3 putting EC back up by two. Rollins answered with a jumper and then grabbed a missed EC shot to have the ball with one minute remaining.
The Triton defense stepped up causing Rollins to have a shot clock violation giving Eckerd the ball and time for one last shot. Stevenson took the ball from the top of the key, found an open jumper and took it for the lead with seconds left to go in OT. Rollins was unable to get a shot off with Eckerd coming away with the 64-62 victory.
"I was proud of our team tonight," said Head Coach,
Tom Ryan. "Everyone came together for a total team effort in this victory."
Leading the Tritons with 17 points and five rebounds was Stevenson who was followed by Walsh when ended the night with 14 points. Brunner Jr. finished with 10 points and one rebound shy of a double-double with nine. Darnell also totaled 10 points in the win.
Eckerd (9-6, 3-3) will hit the road Wednesday to take on St. Leo University (10-6, 2-3). The game is slated to begin at 7:30 pm.
