ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Eckerd men's basketball responded from a 13-point deficit to pull within one in the final minute. However, the Tritons were unable to complete the comeback as they fell, 66-63, to Florida Southern at the McArthur Center Saturday afternoon.
Eckerd jumped out to an early lead and maintained a one-possession favor for the opening 10 minutes. The teams swapped leads over the remainder of the first half as the Moccasins took a 37-35 lead at the break.
FSC used a 17-6 stretch over the opening 10 minutes of the second half to take their largest lead of the game at 13 points (54-41). However, the Tritons responded with seven consecutive points to cut their deficit to four with 6:39 remaining. The Mocs' lead fluctuated between three and seven points over the next three minutes before a Gianfranco Grafals three-point play pulled EC within two at the 1:59 mark.
Both teams went quiet over the next minute and a half. After a Mocs free throw, a pair of Daniel Love free throws pulled Eckerd within one, 64-63, with 21 seconds left. FSC went back ahead by three moments late, giving the Tritons the last look with nine seconds left. However, EC's shot was unable to fall.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Florida Southern 66, Eckerd 63
RECORDS: Eckerd 2-9 (0-8); Florida Southern 6-9 (3-4 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Grafals led Eckerd with a career-high 30 points, going 5-for-12 from 3-point range. He has reached double figures every game this season.
- David Swedura also contributed double-figures with 13 points. He added three steals as well.
- Leonard Okiti led Eckerd on the boards with eight rebounds while Swedura added seven.
- EC shot a season-low 36. 2 percent from the field. The Moccasins also struggled, shooting 36.7 percent.
- Eckerd made a season-high nine 3-pointers.
QUOTABLE
"I thought our defense was resilient in the second half," said head coach Bryan Galuski '98. "However, we have to shoot better and make better decisions."
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to the McArthur Center on Wednesday, hosting Embry-Riddle at 7:30 PM.
