Balanced Tritons Open Season with Win over West Alabama

Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Of all the things the Eckerd men's basketball team accomplished last season, this year's version of the Tritons did something on Friday that last year's team did not - open the season with a victory.

Eckerd went on a 21-4 run to start the game, then followed with a 25-5 run in the second half and cruised past West Alabama, 70-54, in the McArthur Center on day one of the Gulf South-Sunshine State Challenge.

Head coach Tom Ryan began his 21st season with a win and attributed the result to defense.

"Our defense was stingy and turned into energy on the offensive end," he said.  "It was a good first night out and we showed we can play defense.  We need to build on that, though."

Ryan did point out a defensive lapse early in the second half which allowed the Tigers to come out of halftime with seven unanswered points and pull within nine.

What followed, however, was that 25-5 run over the span of 12 minutes during which UWA missed seven straight shots and turned the ball over five times.

Meanwhile, Eckerd created high-percentage chances on offense by getting to the basket.  Eighteen of the team's points during the run came in the paint, part of 32 points in the paint in the game.

As was often the case last season, the Tritons boasted a balanced scoring effort led by Drushaun McLaurn and Trevon Young with 10 points each while Obi Kyei and Keshawn Ingram both had nine points.  All 12 of the EC players who entered the game scored at least two points.  Eckerd also took care of the basketball, turning it over just nine times in the game.

The Tritons return to the floor on Saturday, hosting Delta State University at 7:00 PM.  The Statesmen held off Florida Southern, 73-70, on Friday to win their first game of the year.