MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- The Eckerd men's basketball team dropped its conference opener on Saturday, falling on the road to the Barry Buccaneers by a score of 103-76.
The Tritons fell behind early as the home team put together an 11-2 scoring run out of the gate through the opening five minutes. Eckerd tallied the next nine points, which included five from
Koa Baker, to even the score at 11 apiece. The two teams exchanged scoring outbursts, but found themselves tied once again at 20-20 with nine minutes left to play. A layup from
Wyatt Triestman two minutes later gave the Tritons their first lead of the contest at 24-23, but Barry responded with a late push to grab a nine-point advantage around the two-minute mark. A three-pointer and three-point play from Triestman brought the Tritons closer and within just three at 42-39 entering the halftime break. Both the Bucs and Tritons shot under 40 percent in the half.
Eckerd endured a hot-shooting second half from Barry and could not keep up after the Bucs began the period with a 12-2 run through the first four minutes. A three from Triestman got the Tritons back under a double-digit hole at 15:13, but the Bucs extended their cushion out to 19 over the span of the next five minutes. Barry's efficient shooting performance continued to the end, ending the half with 23 made field goals at a 68 percent mark.
Baker led the Tritons with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Triestman also secured a 20-point effort with 21, also adding seven boards.
Jacob Davis also added 10 points off the bench.
Eckerd will be back at home on Tuesday to host Puerto Rico-Bayamon.
