MEN'S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY: Tampa at Eckerd

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After a thrilling overtime win on Wednesday night, the Eckerd men's basketball team will look to extend its winning streak to eight games as the Tritons host the University of Tampa on Saturday at 4:00 PM.

WHAT: Tampa (3-4, 0-2 SSC) vs. Eckerd (7-1, 2-0 SSC)
WHERE: McArthur Center
WATCH: Live Stats | Live Video

ABOUT THE SPARTANS
- Tampa has started the year slowly, although the Spartans have been close in both of their SSC losses.  UT fell to Florida Tech, 68-61, and to Rollins, 86-75, in conference play before Thanksgiving.  EC has had the chance to see the Spartans play as Tampa won two games at the Eckerd Thanksgiving Classic.
- The Spartans have received a huge offensive spark from freshman Pat Bacon, who averages 21.4 points per game this season.  The Indianapolis native can shoot the 3 (37.5 percent) but is at his most dangerous attacking the basket and getting to the free throw line, where he shoots 83.3 percent.
- Austin Rettig (14.9 ppg) and Marcel Robinson (10.7 ppg) also average in double figures, combining with Bacon to provide the majority of  the team's scoring.  Robinson, a 6-foot-5 forward, has scored 17 or more points in three of his last four games and grabbed 18 rebounds in a win over UPR-Bayamon at the Eckerd Thanksgiving Classic.
- Zach Hollis, a 6-foot-9 transfer from Lamar (Texas) University, has given the Spartans some definite height and length inside.  The senior is averaging 7.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

ABOUT THE TRITONS
- After a 104-100 overtime win over Florida Tech on Wednesday, the Tritons have put together their longest winning streak since the 2011-12 season when the team also won seven in a row.
- Eckerd's balanced offense boasts five players averaging in double-figures led by Jerrick Stevenson's 14.4 points per game.  Freshman Drushaun McLaurn, coming off a 20-point effect on Wednesday, averages 11.4 points per game off the bench.  Starters Kevin Walsh (10.8 ppg), Trevon Young (10.4 ppg) and E.J. Moody (10.0 ppg) round out the team's top scoring options.
- Attacking the basket has been a staple of the Eckerd offense, and that has resulted in the team ranking first in Division II in free throws attempted (265) and fourth in free throws made (182).  Walsh, Moody, Stevenson and McLaurn all shoot 78 percent or better from the line.
- EC has also been strong on the boards, ranking first in conference in rebounding margin.  The Tritons average out-rebounding their opponents by 7.8 rebounds per game.  Obi Kyei, the 6-foot-8 transfer from Metro State (Colo.), leads the team with 7.5 rebounds per game.

LOOKING BACK
Both games between Tampa and Eckerd last season came down to the final possession, and the Spartans emerged victorious both times.  Stevenson missed a game-winner 3-pointer as time expired in a 73-71 loss on January 7 in St. Petersburg, and UT closed out a 56-53 win on February 11 in Tampa.  The Tritons had to intentionally miss a free throw with three seconds left in the game with hopes of getting the rebound, but the Spartans were able to keep that from happening to close out the season sweep.