Defense Leads Tritons to Road Upset of No. 4 Nova Southeastern

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Triton men's basketball team suffered through its worst perimeter shooting performance of the season on Wednesday night.

On the road.  Against the No. 4-ranked team in the country.

And it didn't matter.

Leaning on tenacity, defense, and clutch performances, Eckerd knocked off previously unbeaten Nova Southeastern in overtime, 78-75, a victory that helps put the Tritons back in the hunt in the Sunshine State Conference.

Trailing by 10 points with just under four minutes left, Eckerd went on a 10-0 run to tie the game with 40 seconds left. Despite not getting the potential game-winner to fall in regulation, the Tritons scored the last five points of overtime while getting a pair of vital stops defensively to pick up the upset.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 78, #4 Nova Southeastern 75 (OT)
Records: Eckerd 11-3 (4-2 SSC), Nova Southeastern 12-1 (6-1 SSC)

KEY MOMENTS

• The Tritons trailed nearly from opening tip as Nova Southeastern led for all but 1:25 of the first half. However, NSU's high-octane offense was also held at bay for much of the half, allowing Eckerd to stay close throughout.  Despite not making a 3-pointer in the half and turning the ball over 12 times, EC entered halftime only trailing by eight, 39-31.
• The Sharks scored the first four points of the second half and looked on the verge of building a large lead as Eckerd went scoreless for the first four minutes. The Tritons didn't allow it to happen, though, and soon rolled off eight unanswered points to trim the deficit to four with 13:37 left.
• NSU's lead fluctuated between six and nine points for the next nine minutes before going back up by 10 with 3:58 to play on a 3-pointer by Eddie Puisis. The Tritons responded by holding the Sharks scoreless for the remainder of regulation and went on a 10-0 run, tying the game at 66-66 after two Drushaun McLaurn free throws with 42 seconds left.  Eckerd then stop, aided by a Shaquille Harris blocked shot, and had a chance to win in regulation but McLaurn missed a shot in traffic as time expired.
• Eckerd took the early lead in overtime, going up by four with 3:18 left only to see NSU reclaim it on the heels of a 7-1 mini-run capped by two Connor Zinaich free throws with 46 seconds left.  Myron Hagins, however, popped free at the top of the key and drained a 3-pointer off a pass from Marco Behori to put Eckerd ahead by one.  
• Hagins then came up huge on the defensive end, drawing a charge off a Zinaich drive.  NSU fouled Marquis Gilbert on the inbounds pass, and Gilbert made both free throws for a three-point lead.  The Sharks missed a quick 3-point attempt but collected the rebound that was deflected near mid-court. However, Behori poked the ball away from behind Puisis and Gilbert grabbed the loose ball as time ran out.

NOTES AND NUMBERS

• NSU came into the game averaging 107.2 points per game. Eckerd held the Sharks 32 points below their season average and 41 points below their average in regulation.
• Eckerd went just 3-of-18 from behind the arc, the team's worst performance of the year in both percentage and makes.  The Tritons made up for it by shooting 58 percent (29-of-50) from inside the arc.
• The Tritons are now 1-2 against nationally-ranked teams this season.
• McLaurn scored 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Admir Radoncic came off the bench to score 12 points while Hagins added 11, seven of which came in overtime.
• Eckerd didn't take its first lead of the game until Behori's layup on the first possession of overtime.

UP NEXT
The Tritons return to the McArthur Center to host Rollins at 4:00 PM on Saturday.