Mocs Return Home to Face Eckerd

LAKELAND - Florida Southern is set to return home to Jenkins Field House to begin a three-game homestand beginning on Wednesday as the Moccasins open the homestand with a 7:30 p.m. Sunshine State Conference match-up against Eckerd College.

The Mocs, who are ranked 20th in this week's latest NABC/Division II Coaches' Poll, enter the game having won nine of its last 10 games with the only loss being a 71-63 setback last Wednesday at Saint Leo. The loss to Saint Leo snapped the Mocs seven game winning streak.

FSC began a new win streak last Saturday as the Mocs collected a 78-68 victory at Nova Southeastern to improve to 10-2 overall and 3-1 in the SSC. Eckerd enters the game having won two straight to improve to 8-3 overall and 2-2 in the SSC. The Tritons latest win in its streak came last Saturday as they earned an 80-76 win at Florida Tech. 

Wednesday's game will mark the 94th meeting all-time in the series between the two schools as the Mocs hold a 61-32 edge all-time. Eckerd has won three of the last four meetings in the series as FSC's only win came last season in Lakeland as they earned a 76-61 win. The Tritons won the most recent meeting, 98-90 in overtime last season in St. Petersburg. Seventh-year Moc coach Linc Darner is 7-6 all-time against Eckerd, including being 5-1 in Lakeland against the Tritons.

Eckerd, who was tabbed to finish third in the Preseason SSC poll, is led by the play of senior forward Darrien Mack. Mack, who has won the past two SSC Player of the Week honors, is averaging 16.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and he has had 10 double-digit scoring efforts and has scored at least 15 points in nine consecutive games. In addition to Mack, junior guard Alex Bodney is averaging 11.5 points and 2.0 assists per game and is shooting 42 percent from the field and three-point line and junior guard Josh Snodgrass is averaging 9.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and is fourth in the league in free throw shooting at 86 percent.

The Tritons are under the direction of 17-year head coach Tom Ryan. Ryan, who is the fourth longest tenured active coach in the SSC, has compiled a 315-165 record at his alma mater. Only Rollins' Tom Klusman (33 years), Tampa's Richard Schmidt (30 years) and Barry's Cesar Odio (19 years) are the only longer active head coaches in the league.

As a team, the Tritons are averaging 71.8 points per game and are shooting 44 percent from the field, 32 percent from the 3-point line and are third in the league in free throw shooting at 74 percent. On defense, Eckerd allows 68.7 points per game and is fifth in the league in field goal percentage defense (42 percent) and allows teams to shoot 35 percent from long distance.

Meanwhile, the Mocs enter the contest leading the SSC and are 20th nationally in scoring as they are averaging 83.2 points per game and have scored 80 or more points in eight of its 12 games. In addition, the Mocs are tied for second in the league in scoring margin (+10.0) and lead the league and are fourth nationally in both steals (11.9 per game) and turnover margin (+8.4) and lead the SSC and are 15th nationaly in assist/turnover margin (1.3). FSC is shooting 44 percent from the field and 30 percent from the 3-point line, while its opponents are shooting 44 percent from the floor and 34 percent from long distance.

The Mocs offense has five players averaging in double figures as junior guard Dominic Lane (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and senior guard Seth Evans (Marseilles, Ill.) leading the way. Lane is averaging a team-best 14.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game and has recorded two double-doubles and has scored in double figures eight times in his last nine game and 10 times overall on the season, while Evans is averaging 14.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game and is shooting 40 percent from the floor, 36 percent from the 3-point line and has an SSC-best 2.9 assist/turnover ratio. Over his last five games, Evans is averaging 18.8 points per game and is shooting 48 percent from the field and 43 percent from downtown and has scored 20 or more points three times.

Other Mocs averaging in double figures include sophomore guard Kevin Capers (Winter Haven, Fla,), who is averaging 11.5 points per game and is shooting 50 percent from the field and 83 percent at the foul line and reached double figures in eight games, while junior forward Lamar McKnight (Bedford, Ohio) is averaging 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and senior forward Brett Bailey (Davie, Fla.) is averaging 10.5 points and 5.6 boards per game and over his last three outings, he is averaging 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.

Following Wednesday's game, the Mocs continue the homestand as they host Palm Beach Atlantic in a 4 p.m. non-conference game on Saturday, Jan. 19, before hosting its SSC rival, Tampa, in a 7:30 p.m. contest on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Live stats will be available here: http://www.flsouthern.edu/athletics/mens/livestats/xlive.htm.

Live webcast and audio broadcast of the game will be available here: http://fscmocs.nmtvsports.com.

Complete Eckerd Game Notes