TAMPA, Fla. - Fueled by a large run in the second half and a career-high 29 points from Daniel Love, the Eckerd men's basketball team cruised to a 20-point victory, 67-47, over Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) Friday afternoon on the opening day of the Tampa Classic.
The teams stayed close throughout the opening 10 minutes as the Trojans held a 17-13 lead midway through the half. However, Eckerd responded with a 16-2 run over the remainder of the half to take a 29-19 lead at the break. Love accounted for 11 of the Tritons' 16 points during the stretch.
EC's lead fluctuated between nine and 15 points over the opening six minutes of the second half before TNU went on a 14-2 stretch to pull within three points at the 10:30 mark. However, the Tritons responded again with a 13-3 run over the next four minutes to push out by double-digits as Eckerd cruised the rest of the way.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Eckerd 67, Trevecca Nazarene 47
RECORDS: Eckerd 2-7; Trevecca Nazarene 3-7
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Love's 29 points set a career-high. He nearly posted a double-double grabbing nine rebounds.
- Josh Galloway and David Swedura rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
- Galloway nearly posted a double-double as well with eight boards.
- Leonard Okiti and Daimar Dyall-Richards both made their first career starts, with Okiti pulling down a career-high eight rebounds.
- Swedura tied his career-high with four steals. He has now swiped 10 in his last three games.
- The victory snapped a six-game skid for the Tritons.
- The Tritons committed a season-low 11 turnovers.
- EC held TNU to a 35.2 field goal percentage.
QUOTABLE
"Our players fought hard tonight, and I am extremely proud of all of them. We have battled adversity all seasons, and tonight was no different," said head coach Bryan Galuski '98. "I felt Daniel Love was tremendous and impacted the game on both ends of the floor."
UP NEXT
Eckerd concludes play at the Tampa Classic tomorrow, facing Tiffin (Ohio) at 4:00 PM.
