Box Score LAKELAND, FL - Jack Rauch recorded the third triple-double in school history, and Florida Southern College men's basketball picked up its third-straight win in an 87-79 victory over Eckerd on Saturday at Jenkins Field House.
The Moccasins (7-10, 5-4 SSC) snapped a two-game losing streak to the Tritons (12-4, 5-3 SSC) to move into sole possession of fifth-place in the Sunshine State Conference.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Florida Southern got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 14-7 lead less than five minutes into the game. Eckerd would rally to take a one-point lead (15-14) with 13:08 to go, and would lead by as many as seven points (29-22) with 5:32 to go.
• The Moccasins were able to end the first half on a 13-5 run to take a 35-34 lead at the half. Rauch dished out five assists in the first half, and also recorded eight points and six rebounds.
• Florida Southern was able take the lead into the locker room despite a 14-2 disadvantage in free-throw attempts. Eckerd connected on just 8-of-14 attempts from the charity stripe in the first half.
• The Moccasins would start the second half on fire, outscoring the Tritons 26-10 over the first nine minutes to take a commanding 61-44 lead with 11:33 to play.
• Eckerd would not go quietly, battling back to trim the deficit to just three points (74-71) wit 4:33 to play, but the Mocs were able to hit clutch shots down the stretch and convert from the free-throw line to hang on for the win.
• Florida Southern shot 54.8 percent (34-of-62) while holding the Tritons to just 41.9 percent (26-of-62). The Moccasins outrebounded the Tritons 39-34, and won despite an massive disparity in free-throw attempts. Eckerd went to the line 31 times, while the Moccasins took just 14 trips to the charity stripe.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Florida Southern improved to 69-35 all-time against Eckerd, including 38-13 at home. The Moccasins are now 888-330 all-time in home games, and 699-187 at Jenkins Field House since the facility opened in 1965.
• Rauch finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to become just the third player in school history to record a triple-double. All three triple-doubles have come in the span of less than 13 months. Jarel Spellman logged a triple-double last year against Palm Beach Atlantic on Feb. 2, 2016 (10 pts., 13 reb., 12 blk), while Dylan Travis (11 pts., 10 reb., 10 assists) had his on Dec. 20, 2015 against Miles.
• Six Moccasins scored in double figures on Saturday. All five starters scored in double figures including Rauch, Spellman (11), Michael Volovic (17), Tyler Ross (16), and Jeremiah Davis (13). Brett Hanson added 11 points off the bench.
• Spellman also finished with nine rebounds, eight blocks and five assists. He now has 140 blocks in his career, good for fourth in school history. He needs just 23 more to break Christophe Humbert's school record of 162.
UP NEXT
• Florida Southern heads to Embry-Riddle on Wednesday, Jan. 18 and will enjoy a Saturday off before returnng home with games against Rollins (Jan. 25) and Nova Southeastern (Jan. 28).
