Tritons Defeat Panthers 71-49 in SSC Action
MELBOURNE, Fla.-The Florida Tech Panthers (3-12, 0-5) fell 71-49 to the Eckerd College Tritons (13-3, 3-2) in Sunshine State Conference men’s basketball
action tonight at the Clemente Center. Junior Andre King-Holland led all scorers notching 15 points for the Tritons.
In the first half, the Panthers were unable to run an effective defense allowing the Tritons to outscore Tech 42-24 heading in to the locker room. The
Tritons went on two significant runs in the first twenty minutes taking the lead by as much as sixteen points twice.
Eckerd managed to effectively rebound scoring twelve points off of second change shots and 24 of their points were in the paint. Whether Tech went to zone
or man, the Tritons broke through to score.
Coming out after the break, the Panthers played tougher and managed to limit the Triton’s scoring to only 29 points in the second half running a special
defense that was more effective.
Tech was able to cut the at one time 22 point deficit to only 10 points at 6:47 off a lay-up by senior guard Titas Vainauskas (Vilnius, Lithuania). Despite
the valiant effort at a comeback Tech was unable to get any closer eventually succumbing to the Tritons by 22 points in the last minutes only scoring two
more times.
Tech had three players score in the double figures including Vainauskas and senior Ryan Maultsby each dishing out 14 points for the evening. Vainauskas led
under the boards as well with seven rebounds. Sophomore E.J. Murray added 11 points and six rebounds.
Four Tritons managed to pull in double digits including King-Holland who also served up five assists and eight rebounds. Senior Chris Maddux followed
closely with 14 points and eight rebounds. Junior Matt Cenatus chipped in 12 points while sophomore Damone Morris rounded out the scoring with 11 points.
Tech shot a disappointing 29.8% from the field to Eckerd’s 45.5% for the game. The Tritons “out-banged” the boards as well with 49 to the Panthers 30.
Tech will be back in action next Wednesday, January 25 facing Lynn University down in Boca Raton at 7:30 p.m.
