ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. --- Neither team shot the lights out Saturday evening, but it was the Eckerd College Tritons that were able to come away with the 78-67 win to wrap up the Eckerd College Thanksgiving Classic.
With the loss, MSU drops to 3-2 on the season, while EC improves to 5-1.
Eckerd College led through the majority of the first half as it led by as many as 12 points. With just over 10 minutes to play the Tritons held a 22-16 lead. Eckerd College was then able to double up its lead to 12 at 29-17 with 6:46 remaining in the half.
The Mavericks were able to cut away at the Triton lead in the final six minutes as they outscored Eckerd College 10-4 in the final minutes of the half to reduce the Triton lead to 33-27 as both teams went into the locker room.
Junior
Kevin Krieger led the Maverick offense in the first half with 10 points, while senior
Carlos Anderson and junior
Juwan McCloud each netted four points. As a team, MSU shot 33.3% from the field in the first half, while passing out six assists.
Drushan McLaurn led the Triton offense in the first half with 10 points, while Myron Hagins added seven points and six rebounds. As a team Eckerd College shot 38.2% from the field in the opening stanza, while owning a 25-18 advantage in rebounds.
The first three minutes of the second half saw the Tritons increase their lead to 39-27 as they opened the half on a 6-0 run. The Mavericks managed to get back within single-digits a few times over the next seven minutes but with 10:36 remaining in the game, Eckerd College held a 13 point lead at 53-40.
With 4:20 left in the game the Mavericks managed to get back within eight points of the Tritons at 63-55, but they would get no closer as EC outscored the Mavericks 15-12 in the final four minutes of the game to lock down the 78-67 win.
Krieger led the Mavericks with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Carlos Anderson added 12 points and six rebounds. Junior
Carter Asche tallied 11 points as well.
As a team, MSU shot 36.2% from the field, including a 7-of-26 (.269) showing from long range. The Mavericks also passed out 11 helpers and finished 18-of-23 (.783) from the free throw line.
McLaurn led all scorers as he tallied 26 points, while Hagins notched a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
As a unit, the Tritons shot 23-of-60 (.383) from the field, but they cashed in on 28-of-31 (.903) attempts from the free throw line. EC also hauled in 46 rebounds and recorded seven steals.
Minnesota State opens NSIC competition in its return to Taylor Center on Saturday, Dec. 1, as it hosts Concordia-St. Paul. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
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