ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd men's basketball team stayed close with Bemidji State (Minn.) throughout a back-and-forth game. The Beavers went ahead late on a triple as the Tritons were unable to convert on their game-winning shot, falling, 67-63, to BSU on the first day of the EC Thanksgiving Classic Friday afternoon at the McArthur Center.
EC and BSU swapped leads over the opening eight minutes. The Beavers went ahead by nine at the 9:50 mark, but six straight points from Josh Galloway pulled Eckerd within three at 26-23. EC followed with seven straight points to take a 30-29 lead with 2:37 remaining before BSU took a 35-33 lead into the break.
The teams traded baskets throughout the second half, with neither team able to take more than a five-point lead. A Gianfranco Grafals layup with 1:49 remaining gave the Tritons a one-point lead, but Bemidji State regained the lead with a triple 10 seconds later. EC got a defensive stop inside the final 30 seconds, as Daniel Love drew a foul on the ensuing play. Love hit the front end of his free throws. He collected the rebound on his second shot, narrowly missing a game-winner under the basket.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Bemidji State 67, Eckerd 63
RECORDS: Eckerd 1-3; Bemidji State 3-1
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Gianfranco Grafals led Eckerd with a career-high 26 points, going 9-for-10 from the floor and 6-for-7 from the line.
- Grafals also grabbed a career-high four steals and added a pair of blocks.
- Joshua Galloway was the Tritons' other double-figure scorer with 14 points.
- Grafals and Galloway led EC on the boards with six rebounds each.
- Daniel Love and David Sweedura collected three steals apiece.
- The game featured a combined 24 lead changes and ties.
- EC and BSU combined for 34 turnovers.
- EC grabbed 11 steals, converting to 20 points.
- Eckerd dominated the paint, outscoring the Beavers 32-18.
QUOTABLE
"I thought we competed tonight, but unfortunately, we let too many opportunities slip away and need to make better decisions down the stretch," said head coach Bryan Galuski '98. "However, I can see the growth within our locker room. It's a young season, and as I told our team, we are going to be in tough games for the remainder of the year."
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns for day two of the EC Thanksgiving Classic, facing Ashland (Ohio) Saturday at 6:30 PM.
