Tritons Hold Off Embry-Riddle on Senior Day

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Tom Ryan will get to coach one more game in the McArthur Center after all.

But on Saturday, the 23-year career of Eckerd's all-time winningest coach was celebrated in style as the Tritons closed the regular season with an 82-74 win over Embry-Riddle in the McArthur Center.

In front of a large number of former players, Ryan was honored after the game for his outstanding coaching career that will come to an end once the season is over as he leaves his post to give his full attention to his role as the Director of Athletics.

The Tritons needed a win to earn the fourth seed in next week's conference tournament, along with the right to host a first-round game. A 9-0 run from the opening tip gave Eckerd a lead it held the entire night, though the Eagles certainly did not go down quietly.  

ERAU remained within striking distance for most of the second half and trailed by four with 1:02 to play. But the Tritons made 9-of-10 free throws in the final minute, more than enough to secure the victory on Senior Day.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 82, Embry-Riddle 74
Records: Eckerd 19-9 (12-8 SSC); Embry-Riddle 13-18 (6-14 SSC)

KEY MOMENTS

• Twin seniors Armin Radoncic and Admir Radoncic were instrumental in Eckerd's 9-0 run to open the game, combining for seven of the points. Back-to-back baskets by Admir later helped grow the lead to 11.
• Eckerd suffered through a cold spell from the floor midway through the half as Embry-Riddle managed to pull within two points at the 4:28 mark. EC went back up by six, but five straight points from Alston Jones cut the lead down to one with 1:27 to go. Armin Radoncic tipped in a rebound on Eckerd's next possession followed by 3-pointers from Gianni Dailey and Marco Behori as Eckerd took a 40-33 lead into halftime.
• After ERAU pulled within three early in the second half, Eckerd went on a 13-4 run to take a 12-point lead with 12:06 left. Marquis Gilbert was the catalyst as the junior began heating up from the perimeter, scoring eight points during the stretch.
• The Eagles scored nine straight points to again pull within three at the 8:08 mark. Embry-Riddle later cut the deficit to three points two more times but the Tritons responded with 3-pointers on both occasions, first from Armin Radoncic and then from Gilbert.
• A layup by Jones made it a four-point game with a minute to play. The Eagles began fouling, and Eckerd knocked down 9-of-10 from the free throw line in the last 45 seconds to seal the win.

NOTES AND NUMBERS

• Two seniors, in particular, led the way - one performing as expected and another emerging with the best game of his career in his first-ever start. Behori had 18 points and 11 rebounds while Armin Radoncic netted a career-high 12 points in 19 minutes, including a clutch 3-pointer late in the game.
• Gilbert led Eckerd with 21 points, 15 of which came in the second half.
• Eckerd's starting lineup included all five seniors: Behori, Dailey, the Radoncic twins, and Drushaun McLaurn. The five were honored before the game.
• The win secured the No. 4 seed in next week's conference tournament. The Tritons tied with Barry in the standings but held the tiebreaker.
• The game was Ryan's last regular-season home contest. He has won 246 games in the McArthur Center in his 23-year tenure.

UP NEXT
Eckerd hosts Barry University on Wednesday at 7:30 PM in the first round of the conference tournament.