Box Score ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd men's basketball team has learned how tough it is to beat a team twice in conference play, but they were able to hang on for a 74-70 victory in Boca Raton to complete the season sweep over Lynn, regaining shared possession atop the Sunshine State Conference standings in the process.
The win is Eckerd's 20th
of the season and is the first time the program has reached the milestone since the 2012-13 team finished 20-8.
Despite opening the game on a 12-4 run for the biggest lead of the game, the win did not come easily for EC (20-5, 10-3 SSC) as the team trailed 67-66 with just over six minutes to play and trailed by seven points with under 14 minutes to go. Eckerd used a 15-6 run to overcome the seven-point deficit turning it into a 66-63 lead. However, Lynn (10-12, 4-9 SSC) regained the lead with a Jamal Palmer layup before
Drushaun McLaurn answered with a jumper to return the favor.
Head Coach
Tom Ryan credited his team with grit in the victory as his players forced 15 turnovers and finished on the offensive end, crediting multiple players with key baskets.
"We're fortunate we played good defense and made some big baskets down the stretch to make up for our 18 turnovers," he said.
The Fighting Knights managed to even the score at 70-70 with 2:56 on the clock on a jumper by David Johnson, but the Tritons scored the game's next points with 41 seconds to go on a McLaurn layup. Coming out of the ensuing timeout, Eckerd forced a five second violation to avoid the risk of Lynn tying the game once again.
Jerrick Stevenson then sealed the deal by hitting a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left.
EC also returned to its early-season roots, shooting 52.8 percent from the field and 14-of-20 from the free throw line.
Obi Kyei,
Trevon Young, and McLaurn, the three primary inside scorers, combined for a 17-of-23 performance from the field, as Eckerd scored 40 points in the paint.
Kevin Walsh hit all four of EC's 3-pointers and led the Tritons with 18 points. Young followed with 14 points, then McLaurn at 13 and Kyei at 12. McLaurn's seven rebounds were a team-high.
With Nova Southeastern defeating Barry, 105-91, and Florida Tech beating Rollins, 75-72, the Tritons return to the top spot in the Sunshine State Conference standings. EC is tied with Barry (18-4, 10-3 SSC) and holds a half game lead over Rollins (17-7, 9-4 SSC). Eckerd and Barry are set to meet in the final game of the season in Miami Springs on February 27.
"Someone is going to get knocked off. Lynn almost did it to us tonight," Ryan said. "It's going to end up being one of those tournaments where anyone can make a run and win the whole thing. I've said it all year, and it's all about the next game."
That next contest for the Tritons is a week away as they travel to Fort Lauderdale on February 20 to take on the Nova Southeastern Sharks. The game is set to tip-off at 4:00 pm following the women's contest. Eckerd won the first meeting, 70-60, on January 6 in St. Petersburg.
