ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd Triton men's basketball team has little time to rest on its new national rankings as the team hosts Miles (Ga.) College tonight at 7:30 PM.
WHAT: Miles Golden Bears (5-4, 3-0 SIAC) vs. No. 12/21 Eckerd Tritons (9-1, 4-0 SSC)
WHERE: McArthur Center
WATCH: Live Stats |
Live VideoABOUT THE GOLDEN BEARS- Miles comes into the McArthur Center boasting one of the highest-scoring offenses in Division II, ranking 24th in the nation at 89.0 points per game. The Golden Bears have scored 90 or more points in five of their nine games this season.
- Not surprisingly, the team is also among the best shooting teams in the country, ranking first in 3-point percentage (48.6) and ninth in field goal percentage (51.2).
- The Golden Bears have faced one SSC opponent so far this season, dropping a tight 95-93 decision to Lynn University at home.
- Josh Samuels leads the team in scoring (16.7 ppg) but has only played in three games. He is coming off a 15-point, five-steal performance in the team's last contest, a 73-58 win over Spring Hill (Ala.). Maiscei Greer has been the team's most consistent player, averaging 15.3 points per game including three 20-plus point outings.
ABOUT THE TRITONS- Eckerd vaulted into the national rankings in both the NABC and the D2SIDA polls on the strength of a 9-1 start. The Tritons enter the night ranked No. 12 in the D2SIDA media poll and No. 21 in the NABC coaches poll.
- Freshman
Drushaun McLaurn was named the Sunshine State Conference Player of the Week on Monday following a 27-point performance in Eckerd's 67-62 win over then-No. 11 Rollins on Saturday. McLaurn went 9-of-12 from the field and the free throw line and scored 24 in the second half as EC overcame a 16-point deficit. It was his second 20-point game in his last three outings.
- McLaurn and
Jerrick Stevenson lead a balanced Triton attack that averages 82.8 points per game. Stevenson (13.7 ppg) and McLaurn (12.5 ppg) both average in double-figures along with
Kevin Walsh (10.8 ppg) and
Trevon Young (10.3 ppg).
- The Tritons excel at getting to the free throw line, ranking fourth in Division II in free throw attempts (320) and fifth in free throws made (224). Eckerd also is among the tops in the nation in rebounding with a plus-8.5 rebounding margin.
LOOKING BACKEckerd last faced the Golden Bears on December 22, 2013, at the Tampa Classic. The Tritons won that meeting, 67-50, behind 16 points from Stevenson.
