WINTER PARK, Fla. - The Eckerd men's basketball team made up a seven-point deficit in the final 30 seconds of regulation, including a steal-and-score at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. However, the Tritons were unable to pull away in the extra frame, falling to Rollins, 84-81, on the road Wednesday night.
Eckerd jumped ahead early and maintained a one-possession lead through the opening eight minutes before rolling off nine straight points to take a 17-8 favor at the 10:00 minute mark. The Tars responded to even the score with three minutes remaining, but EC pushed back in front by five (33-28) at intermission.
Rollins opened the second half with a 15-3 run to take a 43-36 lead with 15:13 left. The Tars' lead fluctuated between three to seven points over the next seven minutes. EC responded to take a one-point favor with six minutes left, but Rollins quickly regained the lead. The Tars went ahead by seven with 35 seconds left, but back-to-back triples pulled the Tritons within two with seven seconds left. On the ensuing inbounds pass, Kent Garard got a steal and found Daniel Love, who dished the ball to Joshua Galloway for a layup, tying the game at 74-74 with one second left to send it to overtime.
Rollins jumped out early to take the lead in overtime and maintained a one-possession favor throughout. Brooks Cluxton made a pair of free throws with 14 seconds left to push in front by four, and EC was unable to complete the comeback in the final seconds.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Rollins 84, Eckerd 81 (OT)
RECORDS: Eckerd 2-11 (0-10 SSC); Rollins 9-9 (4-6 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Gianfranco Grafals led EC with his first career double-double of 30 points 14 rebounds. He logged his double-double before the first half ended, entering the break with 16 points and 10 boards.
- Grafals' 30 points tie his career-high.
- Grafals shot 60.0 percent from the floor, going 12-for-20 and 4-for-8 from 3-point range.
- Love also posted a double-double, the second of his career, with 27 points and 12 rebounds. He flirted with a triple-double, adding seven assists.
- Love's 12 rebounds were one shy of his career-high, while his assists tied his best mark.
- EC shot 43.7 percent from the floor while limiting the Tars to a 37.5 field goal percentage.
- EC held a 48-40 advantage on the boards.
- The Tritons 81 points and 48 boards are both season-highs
QUOTABLE
"Our effort was definitely there tonight, and we fought to give our team a chance," said head coach
Bryan Galuski '98. "There were times in the second half we had defensive lapses, and we have to improve our decision making in crucial moments and value our possession."
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to the McArthur Center on Saturday, hosting Lynn at 4:00 PM.
