ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Just a few days ago, the Florida Southern men's basketball team overcame an 18-point deficit to earn a win.
The Mocs nearly did it again on Wednesday in the McArthur Center, but a key rebound by
Marco Behori and a clutch 3-pointer by
Blake Morrow helped preserve a 71-67 victory for the Tritons in conference play.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 71, Florida Southern 67
Records: Eckerd 7-1 (2-1 SSC); Florida Southern 4-3 (1-2 SSC)
All-Time Series: Florida Southern leads, 65-38
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Florida Southern went on an early 11-0 run, but the Tritons responded with 10 unanswered points and took a 19-17 lead midway through the first half. The lead grew to as many as 12 points with 4:29 left in the half before the Mocs scored the last eight points heading into the break as Eckerd held a 35-31 lead at halftime.
- FSC carried its momentum into the start of the second half, scoring the first two baskets to tie the game at 35-35. Eckerd then went on a 12-0 run followed shortly thereafter by an 11-2 run, taking what seemed to be a commanding 18-point lead with 8:00 to play.
- A string of 12 unanswered points by the Mocs soon erased the deficit, pulling them within six of the lead at the 3:35 mark. A free throw by Trevon Young broke the run, but FSC scored seven straight points to tie the game at 63-63. Eckerd briefly retook the lead before two baskets by Jonathan Lawton put the Mocs ahead for the first time since early in the game.
- Drushaun McLaurn was fouled with 18 seconds left, giving him a chance to tie the game at the free throw line. After making the first, he missed the second but Marco Behori ran down the rebound and kicked the ball to a wide-open Morrow at the top of the key. Morrow promptly drained the go-ahead 3-pointer with 13 seconds left.
- Eckerd then forced Lawton to miss near the rim and Young corraled the rebound while getting fouled in the process. His two free throws with four seconds left effectively sealed the win for EC.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Morrow tied his career high for the second straight game, scoring 23 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor and 8-of-9 from the line.
- Young recorded his second straight double-double with 13 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
- Eckerd has won six of the last seven contests with Florida Southern.
UP NEXT
The Tritons travel to take on Florida Tech on Saturday at 4:00 PM.
