Box Score KISSIMMEE, Fla. - In the opening round of the Sunshine State Conference Tournament, the Eckerd College men's basketball team was downed by top seed, Florida Southern College on Friday, 87-75.
Eckerd wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Winning the tip-off and taking it straight to the basket was
Malcolm Brunner Jr. The two teams battled neck and neck to an 8-8 tie before the Mocs grabbed their first lead of the contest with a three pointer at the 14:40 mark.
The go ahead three sparked a 13-3 run for Florida Southern putting them out in front by eight. The Tritons battled back with shots by
Shane Phillips,
Altavious Carter and
Trevon Young. Defense was key during the first 20 minutes for EC who forced a Mocs turnover which Brunner Jr dropped in for two, making it a one point ball game, 21-20.
Each time it looked like FSC might take control of the contest, Eckerd came back with an answer. Down eight with less than a minute left in the first half, the Tritons managed to cut the deficit to just four points. With just seconds left, Phillips was fouled putting up a desperation three. The sophomore promptly went 3 for 3 from the line sending his team into halftime down, 41-37.
Both teams came out of the half putting in their shots. The two squads had combined for 15 points in the first five minutes of play. The Mocs gained control and took a 10 point lead with 13 minutes to go in the game. A steal and bucket by Brunner Jr brought it back to a six point contest. FSC created separation going up by 12.
Eckerd was resilient, refusing to go away.
Matt Beneduci was able to create a steal and get it ahead to
Kevin Walsh who drained a three pointer cutting the deficit to just one, 68-67. Walsh's three came at the end of a 12-3 run for EC with eight minutes left on the clock.
The Tritons were never able to take the lead with the Mocs outscoring them 15-2 over a six minute period. Florida Southern would take the game by a final score of 87-75.
"We've had a rocky season, but I am really proud of our guys," said Head Coach,
Tom Ryan. "With everything we have been through, the team battled all the way to the end with the top team in the nation."
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Walsh led his team in scoring walking away with 20 points going 4 for 6 from behind the arch. In his final game as a Triton, Brunner Jr scored 14 points while pulling down five rebounds. Phillips also ended the night in double digits scoring 10.
Ryan added, "The worst day for a coach is when the seniors lose in that final game. There are no words that can describe it and I just told them how appreciative I was for all three of them and all the hard work they have put in."
In the loss, seniors Brunner Jr, Carter and Annie Bleecker walked off the court on Friday for the final time.
"I am proud of my team and I love this coaching staff," said Brunner Jr. "It's been a great four years. I have really developed as a human being and in becoming a man. I am looking forward to my future."
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