Tritons Fight Back Late, Rally Past Rollins

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - For the second game in a row, a late run by the Eckerd men's basketball team turned a double-digit deficit into a victory.

The Tritons climbed out of an 11-point hole and went on a late 12-2 run to finish the week with a 66-62 win over Rollins in the McArthur Center.

After struggling from behind the arc for most of the game against the Rollins zone, Eckerd drained 4-of-5 in a three-minute stretch that turned a five-point deficit into a five-point lead with 1:09 left.

Marco Behori, who made two of the four 3's during the stretch, missed a third that would have been the dagger with 15 seconds left and a two-point lead but more than compensated by knocking the ball away from the Tars' Jakobi Bonner and diving on the loose ball.

Gianni Dailey then made both ends of a one-and-one with three seconds left, effectively sealing the win for Eckerd.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 66, Rollins 62
Records: Eckerd 12-3 (5-2 SSC); Rollins 8-8 (2-6 SSC)

KEY MOMENTS

• Eckerd had difficulty getting clean looks against the Tars' patented zone defense, which enabled Rollins to outscore EC, 16-6, over a six-minute stretch late in the first half and take an eight-point lead with 3:17 remaining.  The Tritons managed to cut the deficit to four at halftime at Dailey drew a foul on a 3-point attempt and converted all three free throws.
• A 7-0 run early in the second half saw Rollins extend its lead to 11 with 14:00 to play. The Tritons, however, responded with their own 7-0 run to keep the Tars from pulling away.
• Though Eckerd managed to get within one possession, Rollins maintained the lead for the next several minutes before the Tritons went on what proved to be the decisive run. With the Tars ahead, 57-52, and the basketball with less than five minutes left, EC got a stop and followed with a Behori 3-pointer, the first of four that spanned a 12-2 run.  After Kristiyan Stavrev and Dailey each knocked down a 3, Behori capped the run with another triple from the right wing that gave Eckerd a 64-59 lead.
• Eric Castaneda drained a 3-pointer that got Rollins within two points with 35 seconds left and Behori missed a 3-pointer on Eckerd's next possession, giving the Tars a chance to win or tie on the final possession.  Behori, however, made sure it didn't happen, swiping the ball away from Bonner off the dribble, diving on the loose ball, and finding Dailey through two Rollins players.  Dailey was quickly fouled, and the senior calmly made both ends of a one-and-one.

NOTES AND NUMBERS

• Before the late run, Eckerd was just 5-of-23 from behind the arc.  The Tritons ended the game 9-of-29.
• Behori matched his season high with 15 points along with eight rebounds and three steals.  Dailey added 15 off the bench while Drushaun McLaurn had 10 points and a team-high four assists.
• The Tritons have won five straight regular-season games against Rollins.
• Eckerd held a 34-29 edge on the boards, marking the 12th time that EC has out-rebounded its opponent this season. The Tritons have not been out-rebounded all season (three games have been tied in rebounding margin).

UP NEXT
The Tritons face an important road test on Wednesday as they travel to take on No. 22 Florida Southern (12-3, 5-2 SSC).