BASKETBALL GAMEDAY: Tritons Host Nova Southeastern to Mark Halfway Point of SSC Schedule

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The halfway point of the Sunshine State Conference schedule arrives tonight as the Eckerd basketball teams play host to Nova Southeastern in the McArthur Center.
 

Nova Southeastern (10-6, 6-2 SSC) at Eckerd (13-3, 7-1 SSC)
WHEN	Wednesday, January 18 | 5:30 PM
WHERE	McArthur Center
WATCH	Live Video | Live Stats
SOCIAL MEDIA	Twitter (@ECTritons) | Instagram (@EckerdTritons)
LAST MEETING	Nova Southeastern 83, Eckerd 64 (2/20/16)

ABOUT THE SHARKS: It's been a bit of an uncharacteristic season thus far for Nova Southeastern, entering the night with a record of 10-6 overall.  However, the Sharks are certainly in the thick of the conference race, tied for third at 6-2; a win tonight over Eckerd would move them into a tie for second.  Ten different players have earned at least one start this season.  Megan Piggott (12.6 points per game) and Christen Prasse (11.4 points per game) pace an offense that averages 66.1 points per contest.

STREAK STOPPED: The Tritons' record-setting winning streak came to an end on Saturday in a 74-61 loss at Florida Southern, stopping the run of consecutive wins at 11 games.  Eckerd was the victim of a hot Mocs squad that shot 61.8 percent from the field and made 6-of-8 from 3-point range.  The loss dropped Eckerd a half-game behind FSC for first place in the conference standings, but a win tonight would pull the Tritons even with the Mocs at the midway point of conference play.

BIG WEEK FOR VINE: Senior Victoria Vine was on fire last week, averaging 24.0 points per game in EC's two contests.  She scored a career-high 28 points in Wednesday's win over the University of Tampa while tying the program record for most 3-pointers in a game with 7.  She added 20 on Saturday at Florida Southern and went 17-of-28 from the floor during the week.
 

Nova Southeastern (5-10, 2-6 SSC) at Eckerd (12-4, 5-3 SSC)
WHEN	Wednesday, January 18 | 7:30 PM
WHERE	McArthur Center
WATCH	Live Video | Live Stats
SOCIAL MEDIA	Twitter (@ECTritons) | Instagram (@EckerdTritons)
LAST MEETING	Eckerd 60, Nova Southeastern 56 (2/20/16)

ABOUT THE SHARKS: Nova Southeastern has struggled in the first portion of conference play, coming into the game with a record of 5-10 overall and 2-6 in SSC competition.  However, that record could easily be better as the Sharks' last two losses came down to the final possession of the game against Saint Leo and Florida Southern.  NSU is coming off a win over Rollins last Wednesday behind 18 points from Harrison Goodrick.  Goodrick ranks fifth in the conference in scoring, averaging 18.4 points per game.

FIGHTING FOR POSITION: The Tritons need a win tonight in order to hit the halfway mark of the conference schedule in second place.  EC enters the day tied with Tampa and Lynn for second place with matching records of 5-3 in SSC play.  The race is certainly a tight one with Florida Southern a half-game behind the three teams in second and Florida Tech a game back.

20 AGAIN FOR DRUSHAUN: Sophomore Drushaun McLaurn scored 24 points on Wednesday and 26 on Saturday, extending his streak of consecutive games with 20 or more points to four.  It's the longest by a Triton since Darrien Mack did it in five straight games during the 2012-13 season.  McLaurn ranks sixth in the SSC in scoring, averaging 17.4 points per game.