First Half Run Fuels Eckerd Over Puerto Rico Rio Piedras

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A 27-5 run to end the first half fueled the Eckerd men's basketball team to its fourth straight win as the Tritons topped Puerto Rico Rio Piedras 73-54 on the first day of the Eckerd Thanksgiving Classic at the McArthur Center on Friday. 

After a slow start to the game, with Eckerd trailing 14-11 at the 10:07 mark, the Tritons responded with 22 consecutive points to distance themselves from the Roosters before taking a 38-19 lead at halftime. 

Eckerd maintained a comfortable lead throughout the second half. PR - Rio Piedras cut its deficit to 16 at the 8:50 mark, but Eckerd responded with 13 straight points to take a 68-39 favor, and EC cruised the rest of the way. 

HOW IT ENDED

FINAL: Eckerd 73 , PR - Rio Piedras 54
RECORDS: Eckerd 4-1; PR - Rio Piedras 0-3

NOTES AND NUMBERS 

• Isaiah Placide led Eckerd with 23 points, while Carr Thiam rounded out the double-figure scorers with 19. 
• Timothy Thompson led Eckerd on the board with nine rebounds. 
• Reese White and Jordan Kwiecinski grabbed three steals each. 
• Kent Garard added three blocks, while Thompson posted two. 
• Eckerd shot 46.8 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range. 

UP NEXT 

Eckerd faces Bemidji State (Minn.) at 7:00 PM on Saturday to close out the Eckerd Thanksgiving Classic.