Men's basketball comes up short vs. Embry-Riddle

The Tritons came out firing, rattling off a 10-2 run to turn a 6-5 edge into a 16-7 advantage seven minutes in. Six different players found the scoring column in the opening 10 minutes, and Eckerd pushed the lead into double digits on a three from Miquel Llompart near the 11-minute mark. The Eagles answered with back-to-back baskets to pull within six, but consecutive triples from Brady Patterson and Llompart quickly restored a double-figure cushion. Wyatt Triestman's three with six minutes remaining gave the Tritons their largest lead of the half at 32-19 before the visitors responded with nine straight points and trimmed the margin to 37-36 by halftime. The Eagles shot 55 percent in the opening period, while Eckerd countered with two additional made threes and a plus-seven advantage at the free-throw line.

The Eagles opened the second half by taking their first lead of the night, sparking a back-and-forth stretch over the opening four minutes. Neither side held more than a one-point edge during that span until Embry-Riddle connected on a three to go up 47-43. A bucket from Llompart and a jumper in the paint by Timothy Thompson quickly evened the score and ignited a Triton run that pushed the margin to eight approaching the midway point. Tim Taiwo's layup off an Embry-Riddle turnover gave Eckerd a 61-53 advantage, but the Eagles responded with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to reclaim the lead. The game remained within a single possession for the next seven minutes before an Embry-Riddle three created separation at 75-70, and the Eagles went on to secure the six-point victory.

Four players scored in double figures for Eckerd, led by Llompart's 16 points. Triestman notched a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards, while Koa Baker added 13 and Jacob Davis tallied 10 points. 

The Tritons will be back in action Wednesday at No. 3 Nova Southeastern.