SAINT LEO, Fla. - After pushing in front by double-digits, the Eckerd men's basketball team fended off a late Saint Leo rally to win the Tritons first SSC contest of the season on the road, 71-66, on Wednesday night.
After swapping baskets to start the game, Saint Leo went up by two possessions at the 11:44 mark, but Eckerd responded with eight consecutive points to push in front. The teams continued to trade leads the rest of the half, with the Tritons taking a 39-36 favor at intermission.
EC maintained a small edge in the opening 10 minutes of the second half before going on an 8-0 run to take a 59-48 favor at the 9:20 mark. SLU rallied to pull within three but Eckerd answered with a seven-point run to take a 10-point favor. The Lions rallied once again with a 9-0 run to pull within one point with 2:32 left. The Tritons came up with a defensive stop and made their free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
HOW IT ENDED
FINAL: Eckerd 71, Saint Leo 66
RECORDS: Eckerd 5-4 (1-3 SSC); Saint Leo 4-4 (1-1 SSC)
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Isaiah Placide led Eckerd with 18 points, while Koa Baker added double-figures with 14.
- Kent Garard and Micah Pierce added nine points each.
- Baker, Garard, and Mekhi Perry added five rebounds apiece.
- The game featured a combined 16 ties and lead changes.
- Eckerd shot 43.9 percent from the floor.
- The Tritons scored 32 points off the bench compared to the Lions' 11.
UP NEXT
Eckerd faces almost two weeks off before hosting UT in Dallas at Saint Pete College on December 15 at 1:00 PM.
