HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - It's now win-or-go-home time for the Eckerd men's basketball team as the Tritons prepare to open play in the NCAA South Regional Tournament on Saturday taking on Union (Tenn.) University at 2:30 PM CST.
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ABOUT THE BULLDOGS: Union is the No. 7 seed in the South Region, making its second straight appearance in the national tournament after transition from the NAIA where the Bulldogs were a perennial Top 25 team. UU enters the tournament with a 20-10 overall record, although the Bulldogs were much better at home (13-1) than on the road or in neutral settings (7-9). Union was ousted from the Gulf South Conference tournament in the semifinals by the University of West Georgia, 71-68.
The team is led by Marterrace Brock, who averages 20.3 points per game. Brock isn't a great shooter (44.6 percent from the floor, 29.1 percent from 3) but is very adept at getting to the free throw line with 204 free throws on the season which ranks 29th in the nation. Three other players average in double figures: Jordan Montgomery (13.2 ppg), Ashanti Day (12.1 ppg) and Roy Bullock (10.9 ppg).
MAKING HISTORY: Eckerd made program history last weekend by winning the Sunshine State Conference tournament championship, adding it to the regular season championship for the first time. Eckerd had never won both titles in the same season. The tournament championship was the fourth in Eckerd history.
GET TO THE LINE: The Tritons have put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses this season by drawing fouls and shooting free throws. Eckerd ranks 12th in NCAA Division II in free throws attempted with 811 trips to the foul line.
SHUT 'EM DOWN: Eckerd's calling card for the majority of the season has been defense. The Tritons rank 20th in D-II in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 40.7 percent from the floor, and 33rd in scoring defense, limiting opponents to 68.9 points per game despite competing in an offensively-focused conference.
CHASING A RECORD: The Tritons have tied the mark for the second-most wins in a season with 25 and now aim for the program record of 27, set by the 2006-07 squad that was the last EC team to win the conference tournament. This year's 20-win season is the 12th in EC program history, and 11 of those have come under current head coach
Tom Ryan.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: Eckerd is making its 11th all-time appearance in the NCAA National Tournament. The Tritons have twice advanced out of the second round, making it to the Sweet 16 in 2007 and the Elite 8 in 2003. EC's last trip to the tournament came in 2013, where the Tritons were edged by No. 12 Benedict (S.C.) in the first round, 65-60. The team's last tournament win came in 2012, 60-53 over West Georgia. That win came in the same gym the Tritons play in this year, Alabama-Huntsville's Spragins Hall.
CAREER LEADER: As senior
Jerrick Stevenson wraps up his career, he does so as one of Eckerd's all-time leaders in several categories. The Lakeland, Florida, native will find his name in the record books in 11 categories. Below is where he ranks entering the tournament.
| Games Played: 3rd (119) | Field Goals Made: 9th (438) | Field Goals Attempted: 4th (1201) | Free Throws Made: 5th (373) |
| Free Throws Attempted: 3rd (564) | 3-Pointers Made: 7th (152) | 3-Pointers Attempted: 2nd (509) | Points: 5th (1401) |
| Rebounds: 12th (537) | Assists: 12th (265) | Steals: 4th (173) | |
TRIPLE TROUBLE: Junior
Kevin Walsh has been a serious threat from 3-point range this season. The Arlington Heights, Illinois, native ranks 20th in NCAA Division II in 3-point percentage, knocking them down at a 44.1 percent clip. He's made 83 3-pointers this season, ranking second in Eckerd program history for the most in a season. He needs 11 to tie the record of 94, set by Steve Berg in 2005. In just two seasons at Eckerd, Walsh has already moved into the top 10 in career 3's made with 135, ranking ninth.
E.J. Moody and
Bradley Reibel are also players that opponents don't want to leave open from the perimeter. Moody's outside shooting has steadily improved in his four years at EC; the senior is shooting a career-best 39.6 percent from 3-point range this season. Reibel often replaces Walsh on the floor, giving Eckerd no dropoff in shooting. Reibel, a junior college teammate of Walsh, is shooting 40.0 percent from behind the arc.
SWAT TEAM: Junior transfer
Obi Kyei has provided the Tritons with a long and athletic defensive presence in the paint. Kyei, who came to Eckerd from Metro State (Colo.) this summer, has swatted away 52 shots which ranks as the fifth-most in a season at EC.
FROM THE GRIDIRON TO THE HARDWOOD: Sophomore forward
Trevon Young has started all 31 games this season for Eckerd as an important piece of the team's success. However, his college athletics career began at a different school in a different sport. Young spent his first season at the University of Florida as a member of the football team as a tight end. He traded his cleats for high-tops after one year and has been a huge addition to the Triton basketball team ever since. Young averages 9.6 points per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the floor.
FAB FRESHMAN: It was anticipated that freshman
Drushaun McLaurn would be able to make a big impact in his first season for Eckerd, and McLaurn has certainly not disappointed. The 6-foot-5 forward leads the team in scoring with 12.1 points per game while shooting 56.5 percent from the floor. The slasher gets plenty of high-percentage shots and draws fouls, getting to the free throw line 119 times.
SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST: Fifth-year senior
Ray Darnell has been slowed by injuries during his career. A former starter, the 6-foot-6 senior moved into a reserve role this season and accepted the role with the mindset of a leader. Now, he seems to be peaking at the right time. Darnell earned a spot on the SSC All-Tournament team as he averaged 13.0 points per game during the event while making 14-of-15 shots from the floor.
THE RYAN ERA: Tom Ryan, in his 20th season as the head coach at Eckerd, has taken the program to unprecedented levels of success during his tenure. Ryan's teams have won 20 or more games 11 times, claimed four conference tournament titles and made 10 trips to the NCAA National Tournament. He enters this year's tournament with a career record of 381-207.
