Tritons Hold Off Rollins for Key Conference Win

WINTER PARK, Fla. - The Triton men's basketball team led for most of Saturday's game at Rollins, but had to hold off a late run by the Tars in order to secure an 85-80 conference victory that moved Eckerd into sole possession of second place in the SSC standings.

The win was the 421st in the career of Eckerd head coach Tom Ryan, tying him with his mentor and Triton legend Jim Harley for the most wins in program history.

The Tritons used a 12-0 run late in the first half to take the lead for good, although Rollins stayed very much within striking distance throughout the second half.  After EC went up by eight with four minutes left, a pair of quick 3-pointers brought the Tars within two.

Keshawn Ingram connected on a huge 3-pointer to answer with 1:33 left and a Drushaun McLaurn basket with 44 seconds remaining helped secure the win.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 85, Rollins 80
Records: Eckerd 19-6 (12-6 SSC); Rollins 14-13 (10-9 SSC)
All-Time Series: Rollins leads, 67-53

KEY MOMENTS

• After nine lead changes throughout the first half, Eckerd rolled off 12 unanswered points starting with a Kristiyan Stavrev 3-pointer with 3:52 left.  Blake Morrow finished the run with a 3-pointer to put EC ahead by 10, but Rollins' Deion Clark tipped in a miss at the buzzer to send Eckerd into halftime with a 48-40 lead.
• The Tritons never trailed in the second half but never led comfortably either.  The Tars cut the lead down to two points with 6:34 left before EC answered with back-to-back baskets.  The lead then reached eight following two Drushaun McLaurn free throws but Rollins got 3-pointers from Connor McKim and Jeff Merton on consecutive possessions to once again get within two points with two minutes to play.
• On the ensuing possession, the Tritons worked the clock down until Ingram got free at the top of the key and drained a deep 3-pointer for a five-point lead. After Rollins made two free throws to get back within three, Morrow found McLaurn on the left block on a drive-and-dish to extend the lead back to five.
• Rollins still had life after another Merton 3-pointer cut the EC lead to three.  Morrow was fouled on the inbounds pass and made both free throws with four seconds left, sealing the win for Eckerd.

NOTES AND NUMBERS

• Eckerd swept the regular-season series from Rollins for the second year in a row.
• Ingram tied a season-high in assists, dishing out eight.  Eckerd assisted on 25 of its 31 field goals.
• Young and McLaurn combined to go 17-of-25 from the floor.

QUOTABLE
"We shot the ball well and rebounded well.  We gave up too many easy baskets late in the shot clock.  We need to be better at finishing defensive possessions, but this was a very good win for us to get on the road tonight." - EC head coach Tom Ryan

UP NEXT
The Tritons return to the McArthur Center for senior night on Wednesday, hosting Saint Leo in the final home game of the regular season at 7:30 PM.