BOCA RATON, Fla. - Despite a late rally where Eckerd pulled within one, the Triton men's basketball team was unable to complete the comeback as they fell to Lynn, 80-78, at the de Hoernle Sport and Cultural Center Saturday afternoon.
Eckerd trailed by as many as 20 in the second half but used a 25-6 run over an eight-minute stretch to pull within four before closing the gap to one point with 1:25 left. However, Eckerd missed on its last two possessions, as they were unable to complete the rally.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Lynn 80, Eckerd 78
Records: Eckerd 8-16 (4-12 SSC); Lynn 10-12 (6-10 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- The teams swapped baskets to start the game, with neither team able to generate more than a three-point lead until Lynn went up 24-17 with 10:18 left in the first half following a 10-0 run.
- An Admir Radoncic jumper and a 3-pointer from Travis Bianco quickly cut Lynn's lead down to two, but LU pushed back out by seven points three minutes later. A 12-4 Knight run over the final four minutes of the half gave Lynn a 48-37 lead at intermission.
- Lynn opened the second half on an 8-0 run to push in front by 19 with 17:55 left. The Knights went up by 20 with fifteen minutes left, but Eckerd responded with an 11-4 run to cut their deficit down to 13.
- The Tritons then followed with a 14-2 stretch - with Phillip Cirillo accounting for nine points - to pull within four at 72-68 with 7:26 remaining. The Knights lead fluctuated between four and six points over the next three minutes before a pair of Myron Hagins free throws pulled Eckerd within three with 4:33 left. The Knights went back in front by six on a Brandon Bornelus triple, but five straight points by Radoncic capped by a traditional 3-point play pulled EC within one at 79-78 with 1:25 left. However, the Tritons missed their two go-ahead shots inside the final minute while Lynn hit a late free throw to seal the win.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Cirillo led Eckerd with a career-high 20 points while Radoncic followed closely behind with 19. Bianco and Hagins rounded out the double-figure scorers with 14 points each.
- Cirillo and Radoncic also led the Tritons on the boards with seven rebounds each. Cirillo's seven were a career-high as well.
- Radoncic also grabbed a career-high five steals.
- Eckerd shot 41.8 percent from the field while the Knights shot 53.4 percent.
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to play on Wednesday with a trip to No. 6 Florida Southern at 7:30 PM.
