ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd men's basketball team saw its 16-game winning streak come to an end on Wednesday, so now the Tritons will look to begin a new streak as they host Palm Beach Atlantic University on Saturday at 4:00 PM.
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ABOUT THE SAILFISH- Palm Beach Atlantic comes into today's contest as winners of six of its last seven contests. The Sailfish have scored some big wins this season including a buzzer-beating 100-99 victory over Barry University on December 5. Their only loss over the last seven games was a close one, falling to Saint Leo on the road 92-87.
- Close games have been the norm for the Sailfish this season. Twelve of their games have been decided by nine points or fewer; 10 have been decided by seven or fewer.
- Freshman Bakari Warthen hasn't played like a freshman, leading the team in scoring at 18.2 points per game. Warthen has been PBA's high scorer in 10 of his 16 games including a career-high 26 points against Benedict (S.C.) on December 17.
- Michael Simpson can also be a dangerous scorer. The 6-foot-6 senior averages 12.1 points per game and is coming off a career-best 29 points against Rollins last Saturday.
ABOUT THE TRITONS- Eckerd held Embry-Riddle to 68 points, 22 below its season average, but struggled offensively in a 68-65 loss to the Eagles on Wednesday. It broke a 16-game winning streak, tied for the longest in NCAA Division II this season, and was the team's first loss since falling to Delta State (Miss.), 77-67, on November 13.
- Freshman
Drushaun McLaurn had a huge game on Wednesday, scoring 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting. It was the third time that the Jacksonville native has scored 20 or more points in a game this season. McLaurn leads the Tritons in field goal percentage, shooting 58.4 percent from the floor. He is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.0 points per game.
- The Tritons enter today's game ranking 33rd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 68.5 points per game, and 28th in field goal percentage defense holding opponent to 40.7 percent shooting. In all, Eckerd ranks in the top 85 in Division II in 14 statistical categories.
- Eckerd enters the second half of conference play with a two-game lead in the SSC standings over Barry (6-2) and a three-game lead over Rollins (5-3). For Eckerd to close out it first regular-season conference title since 1995, the Tritons will have to do it away from home as five of their final eight SSC games are on the road.
LOOKING BACKEckerd held off a last-minute push by the Sailfish for an 83-78 win in West Palm Beach on November 21. PBA's Michael Simpson had a chance to tie but missed a 3-pointer with under 10 seconds to play. The Tritons placed five in double-figures led by
Jerrick Stevenson's 16 points.
