ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- A 11-0 run and stellar defense down the stretch fueled a second-half comeback to force overtime at the McArthur Center Saturday afternoon. The Eckerd men's basketball team outlasted Saint Leo, 89-84, in overtime as Mekhi Perry hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 22 seconds left before Dante Bouchard forced a crucial turnover in the final seconds to seal the win.
After an early nine-point Lions' lead, Eckerd used a 7-0 run to pull within two at the 11:27 mark. SLU followed with a 15-3 run to take a 32-18 lead with six minutes remaining before Saint Leo entered intermission with a 44-35 favor.
An 11-2 Tritons' run pulled EC within one, 51-50, at the 16:27 mark. However, the Lions responded with seven consecutive points to push in front 58-52. SLU stayed in front until EC used an 11-0 run to take a 71-68 lead at the 5:42 mark. The teams swapped leads down the stretch, with Bouchard knocking down three free throws in the final minute to tie the game at 77-77. Eckerd got a key defensive stop with 12 seconds left but missed on the go-ahead shot to send the game to overtime.
The teams swapped baskets in overtime before Perry got open at the top of the key with 22 seconds left, where he knocked down the go-ahead triple to put EC up by three. Bouchard collected a steal on the ensuring Lions' possession, and Carr Thiam hit his free throws to seal the game.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Eckerd 89, Saint Leo 84 (OT)
RECORDS: Eckerd 4-3 (2-2 SSC); Saint Leo 6-4 (2-2 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Five Tritons posted double figures: Thiam (19), Bouchard (13), Daniel Love (12), Kent Garard (12), and JP Haggarty (10).
- Garard led EC on the boards with eight, while Thiam, Love, and Haggarty grabbed six each.
- Eckerd grabbed a season-high 13 steals. Thiam led the way with four, while Love and Bouchard had three apiece.
- The Tritons shot 38.7 percent in the first half but responded to shoot 50.0 percent in the second frame.
- Eckerd held a 47-30 favor on the boards.
QUOTABLE
"I'm really proud of our team. I felt we were much more physical and determined to defend in the second half. Our grind was tested tonight, and we responded," stated head coach Bryan Galuski '98.
UP NEXT
Eckerd returns to the McArthur Center on Wednesday to face Greensboro (NC) at 7:00 PM.
