BASKETBALL GAMEDAY: Tritons Play Host to Rollins for SSC Showdown

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - After both teams picked up wins at Rollins in December, the Eckerd basketball squads will look to complete the season sweep on Saturday hosting the Tars in the McArthur Center.
 

Rollins (14-6, 8-4 SSC) vs. #16/18 Eckerd (18-3, 11-1 SSC)
WHEN	Saturday, February 4 | 2:00 PM
WHERE	McArthur Center
WATCH	Live Video | Live Stats
SOCIAL MEDIA	Twitter (@ECTritons) | Instagram (@EckerdTritons)
LAST MEETING	Eckerd 77, Rollins 48 (12/3/16)

ABOUT THE TARS: Rollins brings the longest active winning streak in the SSC into today's game, having won six straight contests.  The streak includes a 65-63 road win over then-No. 20 Florida Southern.  The Tars have one of the strongest defenses in the conference, topping the SSC in defensive field goal percentage holding opponents to 34.8 percent shooting.  They are also the leader in blocked shots, averaging 5.1 per game behind 6-foot-3 Carly McLendon who swats away an average of 2.8 per game.  Only two players - Julia Ingler (10.8) and Marie Gilbert (10.3) - averaging double-digits in scoring but five more players average better than five points per game.

LAST TIME THEY MET: A huge second quarter resulted in a big halftime lead for Eckerd as the Tritons cruised to a 77-48 win over Rollins on December 3 in Winter Haven.  EC shot 50 percent from the floor and got a balanced offense with 15 points from Kacie Juday and 14 each from Ada Yalcin, Ashley Folsom and Anna Deegan.

HIGHLY RANKED: The Tritons rank among the top teams in Division II in several statistical categories. Eckerd's top ranking in scoring defense, allowing 54.6 points per game to be seventh in the nation in that category.  EC also ranks in the top 15 in 3-point percentage (37.8, 11th), field goal percentage (46.0, 12th) and scoring margin (17.1, 14th). 
 

Rollins (13-9, 7-5 SSC) vs. Eckerd (15-6, 8-4 SSC)
WHEN	Saturday, February 4 | 4:00 PM
WHERE	McArthur Center
WATCH	Live Video | Live Stats
SOCIAL MEDIA	Twitter (@ECTritons) | Instagram (@EckerdTritons)
LAST MEETING	Eckerd 82, Rollins 73 (12/3/16)

ABOUT THE TARS: Rollins was riding a five-game winning streak before falling at home on Wednesday to Embry-Riddle in a 97-78 blowout.  The Tars enter today's game just a game behind Eckerd in the conference standings, meaning a win today would move them into a tie for second.  Four Tars average in double figures, led by Sam Philpott's 15.2 points per game.  Jeff Merton (14.5), Connor McKim (10.3) and Joey Galvis (10.1) round out a balanced Rollins offense.

LAST TIME THEY MET: The Tritons got big baskets down the stretch from Kevin Walsh and Trevon Young as Eckerd held off Rollins for an 82-73 win on December 3.  Eckerd put five players in double figures, led by Walsh's 17.  Philpott led all scorers with 20 for Rollins.

CHASING RECORDS: Kevin Walsh enters the game just 12 3-pointers away from breaking the program record for the most in a career.  The senior has already drained 74 3's this season, ranking fourth all-time, and is also within striking distance of the program's single-season record of 94.