Mocs Host No. 12 Eckerd Saturday at Jenkins Field House

LAKELAND - Florida Southern will look to continue its winning ways at home here Saturday evening as the reigning National Champion Moccasin host 12th-ranked Eckerd in a Sunshine State Conference match-up. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at Jenkins Field House on the FSC campus.

The Mocs come into Saturday's action sporting a 7-8 overall record on the season and 3-2 mark in the SSC, but they have won two straight games at home since suffering a 94-84 setback to Mount Olive on Dec. 19. FSC hasn't played at home since opening the New Year with a 93-75 win last Saturday against SSC rival Tampa. 

"We have another tough opponent on Saturday. Eckerd is a really good team, so hopefully we're able to bounce back and play well on our homecourt Saturday," Mocs head coach Mike Donnelly said following his team's 112-91 loss on Wednesday at Embry-Riddle. 

Wednesday's loss at Embry-Riddle snapped a two game winning streak for the Mocs as prior to that setback the Mocs had closed the pre-Christmas portion of its schedule with a 128-84 win at home over Miles and then opened the New Year with that 18 point victory over Tampa last weekend. 

FSC opened SSC play this season with consecutive victories over Barry (74-72) at home and Lynn (98-91) on the road, before suffering two straight losses at Saint Leo (91-89) and at home to Florida Tech. In the Saint Leo game, the Mocs led by 11 with 2:49 left in the game, before the Lions scored 15 of the game's final 17 points to snap the Mocs 17-game conference win streak.

While FSC comes into the match-up looking to rebound after suffering its eighth loss of the season on Wednesday, Eckerd enters the game as one of the hottest teams in Division II men's basketball as they have won a school record 13 straight games since opening the 2015-16 campaign with an 87-77 loss to Delta State at the SSC/GSC Challenge in Livingston, Ala. The 13 game win streak is currently the second longest active streak in Division II as only a 16 game streak by Minnesota State-Moorhead is longer.

The Tritons are sporting a 13-1 overall record and a perfect 5-0 in SSC play. Eckerd's win streak began with an 82-78 overtime win against West Alabama and was continued with a 70-60 home win this past Wednesday against Nova Southeastern. Eckerd is 4-1 away from home this season, but is playing its first road game in SSC play since posting a 67-62 win at Rollins on Dec. 12.  

Ironically, FSC was at that same season opening event as Eckerd as the Mocs went 0-2 as they lost to both West Alabama (90-78) and Delta State (77-63). 

Saturday's game will mark the 103rd meeting all-time in the series between the two schools as the Mocs hold a 69-33 edge all-time. The Mocs have won seven straight games in the series, including posting an 87-75 win in the team's most recent meeting in the first round of last year's SSC Tournament in Kissimmee. FSC has won eight straight games in the series in Lakeland and holds a 32-11 edge at home and leads 25-18 in St. Petersburg. In addition, FSC holds a 10-4 edge on neutral courts. Since the beginning of the 2012-13 season, FSC is 8-1 against the Tritons with the only victory coming at Eckerd on Feb. 8, 2013 as the Tritons posted a 98-90 overtime win. The two teams have faced each other in the SSC Tournament the past three seasons.

Eckerd, who was tabbed to finish fifth in the Preseason SSC Coaches' Poll, enters play on Saturday with a team that has four players averaging in double figures and two other players averaging over eight points per game. Leading the way for the Tritons is senior guard/forward Jerrick Stevenson, who is a graduate of Lakeland's George Jenkins High School, is averaging 13.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game and is shooting 37 percent from the field and 32 percent from the 3-point line and has reached double figures in three straight games and 11 times overall on the season.

In addition to Stevenson, junior guard/forward Kevin Walsh. Walsh is averaging 11.4 points per game and is shooting 46 percent from the field, 47 percent from downtown and 85 percent at the free throw line. He has scored in double figures in eight games, including reaching double figures in six of his last eight games.

The other two double-digit scorers are freshman forward Drushaun McLaurn and sophomore forward Trevon Young. McLaurn is averaging 11.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and is shooting 56 percent from the floor and 77 percent at the free throw line and has scored in double figures in eight games, including a season high 27 in the Tritons wins at Rollins and Young is averaging 10.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and is shooting 49 percent from the floor and has had two double-doubles and scored in double figures in nine games. 

Eckerd is under the direction of 20-year head coach Tom Ryan. Ryan, who is the third longest tenured active coach in the SSC, has compiled a 369-201 record at his alma mater. Rollins' Tom Klusman (36 years) and Tampa's Richard Schmidt (33 years) are the only longer active head coaches in the league than Ryan.

As a team, Eckerd is one of the top defensive teams in the league as they lead the SSC in both scoring defense as they allow 68.9 points per game and scoring margin (+13.5) and they also lead the SSC in both field goal percentage defense (41.3 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (32.7 percent) and is third in rebound margin (+7.7). On offense, the Tritons are second in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (39.9 percent) and third in field goal percentage (47.6 percent) and is averaging 82.4 points per game.  

Eckerd's defense will be tested on Saturday by a Moccasin team averaging 90.1 points per game and has scored 80 or more points in all but three games this season, including scoring 90 or more points in three consecutive games and five times in their last six outings. Along with averaging 90.1 points per game, the Mocs lead Division II in made 3-pointers as they have hit 170 on the season and are averaging 11.3 made treys per game, which is tied for first in the SSC. Additionally, the Mocs are shooting 44 percent from the field and are fourth in the SSC in free throw shooting at 72.9 percent. Along with leading Division II in 3-point field goals made, the Mocs also have shot a Division II best 449 treys. In fact, 41 percent of FSC's shots this season have come from behind the 3-point arc.

On defense, the Mocs have struggled at times this season as they are allowing 88 points per game and have allowed 11 foes to score over 80 points, including allowing eight opponents to score over 90 points, including allowing a season high 112 points in its last outing against Embry-Riddle. 

"We have struggled defensively this season, especially when it comes to guarding the 3-point line," the Mocs coach added. 

FSC's opponents are shooting 37 percent from the 3-point line and 46 percent from the field and are averaging 8.9 made treys per game this season. In addition, FSC's opponents are averaging 21.5 free throw attempts per game.

Leading the way for the Moccasins offensively through 15 games this season is senior guard Dylan Travis (Omaha, Neb.). Travis is second in the SSC and 22nd nationally in scoring as he is averaging 22.0 points per game and is also averaging 8.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and a league-leading 2.1 steals per game and is shooting 45 percent from the field, 37 percent from downtown and 82 percent (93-for-113) from the free throw line. Travis has hit 26 of his last 33 free throws and ranks in the Top 10 in Division II in both free throws made and free throws attempted. He has scored 20 or more points in 10 of 15 games and has scored in double figures in 16 straight games and 20 times in his last 21 outings dating to last season. Additionally, he has recorded a team-best four double-doubles on the year and recorded the programs first-ever triple-double in the win over Miles. Against Miles, Travis, who was named the SSC Defensive Player of the Week on Dec. 21, scored 11 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out a career high 10 assists. 

In addition to Travis, senior guard Dominique Williams (Haines City, Fla.) is the Mocs No. 2 scorer on the season. Williams, who is one point shy of becoming the 40th Moccasin to join the 1,000 Point Club, is averaging 19.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game and is shooting 45 percent from the field and 44 percent from the 3-point line and is fourth in the SSC in made treys per game at 2.9, including hitting 19 of his last 35 three point shots. Williams, who has scored 999 career points, has reached double figures in 13 straight games and has scored 20 or more points in four of his last six outings. 

Along with Travis and Williams, two other Mocs are averaging double figures on the season as junior guard Michael Volovic (Carmel, Ind.) is averaging 15.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per contest and is shooting 38 percent from the field, 33 percent from the 3-point line and 80 percent from the free throw line and has scored in double figures in five consecutive games, including a team high 21 points in the loss to Embry-Riddle, while junior guard Sheldon Zablotny (Erie, Pa.) is averaging 12.0 points per game and is shooting 42 percent from the field, 35 percent from the 3-point line and 89 percent at the line and has scored in double figures in 11 of 15 games, including reaching double figures in four of his last five games and is averaging 11.7 points per game off the bench on the year.

Following Saturday's game, the Mocs will take a week off before returning to the court on Saturday, Jan. 16 for a 4 p.m. game in Davie against Nova Southeastern. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 as part of the Division II National Game of the Week package.