Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Eckerd College men's basketball team fell to a late rally from Saint Leo University on Wednesday night, 67-63.
EC won the tip-off and took it straight to the basket for the first two points of the game. The first half was a battle with both teams fighting to take control early.
Malcolm Brunner Jr. knocked down a jumper to put his team up 10-5. A couple possessions later,
Matt Beneduci hit a three to make it a 15-11 ball game.
Saint Leo put in five points on back to back possessions to take their first lead of the game, 16-15, at the 12 minute mark. Brunner Jr. and
Kevin Walsh gave their team a lead before the Lions brought it back to a 22-22 tie. EC ripped off eight unanswered points before SLU put up five of their own to end the half. Eckerd went into the locker room holding a three point lead, 30-27.
Eckerd jumped out to a 44-36 lead through the first 10 minutes of the second half. Beneduci was lights out from three point land hitting his fourth trey of the game with 7:45 left in regulation to put his team up 51-45.
Over the next six and half minutes the Lions outscored EC 11-2 taking a 56-53 with under two minutes to play. Beneduci once again hit a three from the corner making it a four point game, 61-57. With 13.3 seconds on the clock,
Jerrick Stevenson hit a desperation three to get his team within three points. Saint Leo hit their free throws and took the game by a final score of 67-63.
Beneduci set a new career high in points with 15 leading the Tritons in scoring.
Shane Phillips and Brunner Jr. added nine points each while Stevenson ended the night with eight points.
Eckerd (11-15, 4-12) will host Palm Beach Atlantic (10-5) in their final home game of the season on Saturday. The Tritons will honor their seniors before the 4 p.m. tip-off.
