LAKELAND, Fla.- The Eckerd men's basketball team got off to a strong start against No. 5 Florida Southern with a five-point lead midway through the first half. However, the Moccasins went on a late run in the first half before controlling the second half for a 109-75 win at Jenkins Field House Wednesday night.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: No. 5 Florida Southern 109, Eckerd 75
Records: Eckerd 8-17 (4-13 SSC); Florida Southern 24-2 (16-2 SSC)
KEY MOMENTS
- Eckerd opened the game with a triple from Kristiyan Stavrev and an Admir Radoncic layup as they took a quick 5-0 lead. The Moccasins took a brief one-point lead at the 16:51 mark before EC went on a 7-2 run capped by a Travis Bianco triple to put Eckerd up 14-10.
- The Triton lead fluctuated between two and five points over the next five minutes before FSC pulled within one at the 10:53 mark before they took a one-point lead two minutes later. Eckerd and Florida Southern swapped the lead over the next four minutes before the Mocs closed the quarter on a 17-4 stretch to take a 45-33 lead at intermission.
- The teams traded baskets over the first four minutes of the second half as the Mocs maintained a double-digit lead before Florida Southern went on a 17-3 run to take a 67-45 lead with 12:39 remaining.
- Eckerd responded with six consecutive points capped by a Stavrev triple to cut the deficit down to 16 points. FSC answered with an 11-3 run to go back in front by 24 with 8:24 remaining. The Mocs maintained a comfortable lead the rest of the way before taking the 109-75 victory.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Stavrev led Eckerd with 18 points while going 6-for-7 from behind the arc. Radoncic followed with 17 points while Myron Hagins and Bianco rounded out the double-figure scorers with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
- Radoncic led EC on the boards with eight while Phillip Cirillo pulled down seven.
- Hagins and Malcolm Whitlow grabbed two steals each.
- Whitlow also dished out eight assists.
- The Tritons shot 36.0 percent from the field while the Moccasins shot at a 56.8 percent clip.
QUOTABLE
"I was disappointed in our defensive fundamentals and awareness tonight," said head coach
Bryan Galuski. "At this point in the season, every opportunity is fragile and we must make the most of them."
UP NEXT
Eckerd looks to bounce back as they host Embry-Riddle Saturday at 4:00 PM.
