Mocs Host Eckerd on Wednesday to Open Two-Game Homestand

Moccasin Game Notes vs. Eckerd

LAKELAND - Florida Southern will put its two-game winning streak on the line here Wednesday evening as the sixth-ranked Moccasins begin a two-game homestand with a 7:30 p.m. Sunshine State Conference tilt against Eckerd College at Jenkins Field House.

The Mocs, who are 13-1 overall on the season and 2-1 in the SSC, comes into Wednesday's game fresh off back-to-back road wins last week over Saint Leo (71-66) and Nova Southeastern (77-74) to earn its first two SSC wins of season after having its 12-game win streak snapped following its 107-102 home win on Jan. 3 against then 11th-ranked Barry. 

Meanwhile, Eckerd comes into the contest having dropped two consecutive games after opening the 2015 calendar year with a 73-70 home win over Nova Southeastern on Jan. 3. The Tritons, who are 8-5 overall on the season and are in a three-way tie for fourth in the SSC with a 2-2 mark, suffered a 73-71 home loss last Wednesday to Tampa and then fell 71-67 in overtime this past Saturday at Lynn. 

Wednesday's game will mark the 100th meeting all-time in the series between the two schools as the Mocs hold a 66-33 edge all-time. The Mocs have won four straight games in the series, including posting an 82-76 victory in the team's most recent meeting in last year's semifinals of the SSC Tournament in Kissimmee.  FSC has won seven straight games in the series in Lakeland and hold a 31-11 edge at home and leads 24-18 in St. Petersburg. In addition, FSC holds a 9-4 edge on neutral courts. Ninth-year Moccasin coach Linc Darner is 12-7 all-time against Eckerd, including being 7-1 in Lakeland against the Tritons. 

Eckerd, who was tabbed to finish tied for seventh in the Preseason SSC Coaches' Poll, enters play on Wednesday with a team that has seven players averaging over seven points per game, including two players averaging in double figures. Leading the way for the Tritons is junior guard/forward Jerrick Stevenson. Stevenson, who is a graduate of George Jenkins High School in Lakeland, is averaging 14.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.4 steals per game and is shooting 39 percent from the field, 34 percent from the 3-point line and has scored in double figures in 10 games, including posting a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds in his last outing against Lynn. 

The other Triton averaging in double figures is junior guard E.J. Moody. Moody, who is a graduate of Lakeland High School, is averaging 11.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game and is shooting 48 percent from the field, 49 percent from the 3-point line and leads the SSC in free throw percentage at 94 percent. Moody has scored in double figures in seven game and has hit 13 of his last 14 free throws and is 33-for-35 at the line on the season.

Eckerd is under the direction of 19-year head coach Tom Ryan. Ryan, who is the third longest tenured active coach in the SSC, has compiled a 352-190 record at his alma mater. Rollins' Tom Klusman (35 years) and Tampa's Richard Schmidt (32 years) are the only longer active head coaches in the league than Ryan.

As a team, Eckerd is averaging 74 points per game and is shooting 48 percent from the field, 37 percent from the 3-point line and is last in the SSC in free throw shooting at 65.4 percent. The Tritons are fourth in the league in both field goal and 3-point field goal percentage and are third in the league in rebound margin (+3.4). On defense, Eckerd is allowing 70.7 points per game and its foes are shooting 43 percent from the field and 37 percent from the 3-point line and have held its last six foes under 75 points, including allowing a season low 47 points to Limestone. 

Eckerd's defense will be tested on Wednesday by a Moccasin team that leads the SSC and is fourth nationally in Division II in scoring as the Mocs are averaging 93.5 points per game and they have scored 80 or more points in 12 of 14 games, but have been held under 80 in its last two games. Along with leading the league in scoring, the Mocs are also shooting 44 percent from the field, 37 percent from the 3-point line and 77 percent at the free throw line, which is 12th-best in Division II. On defense, the Mocs are allowing 77.4 points per game and have held four of its last five foes under 75 points. In addition, FSC's opponents are shooting 46 percent from the field and 35 percent from the 3-point line and lead the league and are second nationally in turnover margin (+9.9).  

Leading the way offensively for the Mocs through the first 14 games this season is senior All-American guard Kevin Capers (Winter Haven, Fla.). Capers is averaging an SSC-best 21.9 points per game and has scored in double figures in 12 of 14 games, including tallying 20 or more points in 10 of 14 games. Along with averaging 21.9 points, Capers, who is coming off a 29 point effort in the Mocs win last Saturday at Nova Southeastern, is also averaging 3.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.4 steals per game and is shooting 46 percent from the field and 78 percent at the free throw line and enters Wednesday's game sitting in fourth place on the school's all-time scoring chart with 1,840 points and is just 31 points shy of becoming the No. 2 scorer in school history. 

In addition to Capers, four other Mocs are averaging in double figures, led by senior forward Stephen Battle (Waldorf, Md.), who is averaging 12.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game and leads the team with 17 blocked shots. The other double digit scorers are junior guard Dylan Travis (Omaha, Neb.), senior guard Tyler Kelly (Pickerington, Ohio) and sophomore guard Michael Volovic (Carmel, Ind.). Travis is averaging 11.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game and has scored in double figures in five of his last six games, while Kelly is averaging 11.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists per game and leads the SSC in assist/turnover ratio (2.3) and has hit a team-best 32 treys and Volovic is averaging 10.5 points per game off the bench and is shooting 44 percent from the field and 44 percent from the 3-point line and has tallied double figures in six games. 

Following Wednesday's game, the Mocs will conclude its two-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 17 as they host Florida Tech (10-4 overall, 0-3 SSC) in 7:30 p.m. SSC contest. The Panthers are playing at eighth-ranked Barry on Wednesday.