Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The game was a wild one and decided in the final minute of play
on Saturdaynight with the Eckerd College men's basketball team defeating Florida Tech, 60-57.
Both teams came out onto the court bringing their defensive A game.
Malcolm Brunner Jr. put a Panthers shot into the front row with a big time block to get the game going. Florida Tech broke the scoreless drought with a jumper three minutes into the contest.
E.J. Moody answered with a three on Eckerd's next possession to get his team on the board.
Brunner broke an 8-8 tie with a pass to
Ray Darnell who dropped it in for two. EC created separation running off nine straight points to go up 17-10. The Panthers were able to grab a couple buckets with minutes remaining in the first half to keep it close. Eckerd went into the locker room holding onto a three point lead, 20-17.
The Tritons came out swinging putting in the first eight points of what would become a crazy second half. After EC jumped out to a 10 point lead, FIT came storming back. The Panthers went on a 17-5 run putting them out in front, 52-38, with under six minutes to play.
Trailing by 11 with
2:15remaining on the clock,
Kendall Roberts knocked down a big three to start the comeback for the Tritons. Roberts turned around a grabbed a steal on the Panther's next possession and handed it off to Darnell for two points bringing the score to 57-51.
Keshawn Ingram added two points off the glass on Eckerd's next possession. The freshman turned around and hit a clutch three on the team's next trip down the floor to make it a three point game, 57-54 and less than minute to play.
Moody made it a one point game with a jumper from the corner. With less than 20 seconds remaining,
Jerrick Stevenson was able to get a steal and push the ball forward to Moody who dropped in the go ahead layup. Moody was then fouled and went to the line draining both of his free throws giving EC a 60-57 lead. The defense held strong not allowing a last second shot by the Panthers to complete the comeback.
"I was very proud of our team for not staying down and battling the whole game," said Head Coach,
Tom Ryan. "This win was a total team effort that I know we can build on moving forward."
Moody led EC in scoring with 16 points. Brunner Jr. finished with a solid game totaling 10 points to go along with five rebounds and three blocked shots. As a team, the Tritons shot 80 percent from the free throw line on the night.
Eckerd (11-8, 4-5) will head to Fort Lauderdale
Wednesdayto take on Nova Southeastern (7-10, 3-5). Tip-off is scheduled for
7:30 p.m.
