Tritons Tame West Alabama, 66-52

LAKELAND, Fla. - A poor shooting afternoon didn't end up mattering for the Eckerd men's basketball team, as the Tritons leaned on their staples of rebounding and defense to pick up a 66-52 win over West Alabama on Saturday at the SSC-GSC Challenge.

Eckerd dominated the boards, 43-28, and held the Tigers to 33.3 percent shooting to stay perfect on opening weekend.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 66, West Alabama 52
Records: Eckerd 2-0, West Alabama 0-2

KEY MOMENTS

• Both teams started slow offensively until Eckerd went on a 8-0 run for a 15-3 lead at the 11:04 mark of the first half. Drushaun McLaurn's rare 4-point play capped the run that gave EC a lead it never relinquished.
• West Alabama managed to pull back within six points, but both squads continued to be plagued by poor shooting.  Eckerd led by 10 just before halftime, but UWA's Lajuan Hardy beat the buzzer to make it 28-20 at the break.
• Back-to-back 3-pointers by Myron Hagins extended the lead to 38-24 with 13:54 to play, but the Tigers answered with an 11-2 run to cut the deficit to five points less than four minutes later.
• Still hanging on to an eight-point lead with 6:30 left, the Tritons got a boost from their two most experienced seniors.  Marco Behori made a driving layup, followed by a charge drawn by McLaurn.  Behori then drained a 3-pointer off a McLaurn assist and moments later, McLaurn stole the ball near half court and converted a traditional 3-point play as Eckerd's lead grew to 15 points (55-40) at the 4:30 mark.
• The Tritons remained in control the rest of the way with Behori and Gianni Dailey each knocking down 3-pointers in response to West Alabama baskets late in the game.

NOTES AND NUMBERS

• The win marked the fourth for Eckerd in as many years over West Alabama.
• McLaurn, who missed Eckerd's Friday opener, began his senior season with 21 points, nine rebounds, and five steals. Hagins scored 12 points while Behori added 10 to go along with nine rebounds.
• Eckerd's plus-15 advantage on the boards included 21 offensive rebounds which led to 18 second-chance points.
• The Tritons shot just 37.1 percent from the floor but went 12-of-15 from the free throw line.

UP NEXT
Eckerd has next week away from competition before hosting Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in its home opener on Sunday, November 18, at 4:00 PM.