Men's Basketball competed against Eckerd College in their last 2016-2017 preseason game, and came up short by one point 83-82. The Cougar program is now 3-3, going 0-2 in their Florida games this weekend.
The Cougs competed on another level against the Tritons, playing outstanding ball, and shooting a good game. The teams matched up evenly against each other, contrasting in their strengths and weaknesses. The first half ended 34-34 with CCU and EC looking for a way to gain the lead. When a game is as close as this one, the teams do more than just try and score points. They ultimately try to get possession of the ball every play. To do this it takes knowledge of the opponent, discipline in your game, and hard work for a whole 40 minutes.
The game continued on into the second half, and CCU led for the first ten minutes, with #10
Dimitri Saliba dominating the court scoring 18 points (20 total in the game-team high). When the clock was at about 10:00, Eckerd College tied it up 56-56. For the rest of the game, it was back and forth in leads as both teams scored off free throws, layups, and threes. 77-77. Eckerd shot two FT, making one, but then stealing back the ball for a layup. The Tritons were now up 80-77. CCU's
Ty McGee then made a layup making it 80-79. McGee totaled 16 points and 8 rebounds. Another three pointer by EC discouraged the Cougars 83-79. CCU fought hard in the end, but came up short that one point.
Eckerd hit 25-35 free throws, while the Cougs went 13-20. But Christian hit 9-21 threes and the Tritons only 6-23. What CCU lacked from the line, they made up in three pointers. Senior #11
Brett Brady led blue and gold in 3FG going 5-11 (6-15 FG) and scoring 19 points.
Head Coach
Kevin Lubbers remarked:
"I thought this was one of our most complete games of the year and our guys did everything in their power to hunt down the result we were after. When players execute and compete, doing exactly what I ask of them to do, the loss comes back on me as the coach, and not the players. I have to put them in better positions to win."
