Melbourne, Florida – Florida Tech Men's Basketball tipped off the holiday season this evening against Eckerd College. With this matchup being the final conference game of 2025, the Panthers were looking to head into the new year on a high note in SSC play.
GAME FOUR – CONFERENCE PLAY
Final (OVERTIME): Florida Tech Panthers 87, Eckerd College Tritons 85
Records: Florida Tech (5-5, 2-2 SSC)
| Eckerd College (5-4, 1-3 SSC)
Location: Clemente Center
| Melbourne, Florida
GAME NOTES:
First Half:
- This evening's game started with Greyson Williams getting to the line for two free throws.
- Eckerd responded with two early three-pointers, but a layup from Williams and two more from Xavier Ford-Belton had this contest tied at 8-8 through the first four minutes.
- From this point in the first half, the Tech defense stood tall, as it took Eckerd until the six-minute mark (ten minutes of game time) to double their score.
- In this time, Tech got baskets from Williams, Ford-Belton and Ca'Darrius Sowell as they held a lead for the majority of the first twenty minutes.
- While the Tritons found some late momentum, a 9-0 run from Tech gave the Panthers a double-digit lead (35-24) with 1:12 left in the half.
- Eckerd earned free throws, but for the second time in the last three games, Tech held their opponent to under 26 points in the first half.
HALFTIME SCORE - Florida Tech 35, Eckerd 26
Second Half:
- Despite an elite defensive first half from the Panthers, the Tritons opened the final 20 minutes with an 11-2 run to pull within two points.
- Following the run, Noah Van Bibber and Ty Harpring expanded the lead, and Tech led 48-41 with 13 minutes remaining.
- Both teams began battling back and forth as the contest became very physical.
- As the game transitioned into the final ten minutes of regulation, Sterling White III and Noah Van Bibber each hit big-time shots to keep the Panthers out in front, 57-52.
- While it looked like Tech was going to pull away, another big run from the Tritons saw them not just close the gap but take their first lead of the contest since early in the first half.
- After Eckerd took a 71-69 lead, Van Bibber drilled a three to put the Panthers back in front.
- The Tritons responded with a three-ball of their own, and after Grant Lovette sank two free throws, the game was tied at 74-74 with 1:47 left in the second half.
- Both teams had chances in the final minute to win the game in regulation, but all either side could muster was one free throw each, and the contest would need an extra five minutes to decide a winner.
END REGULATION - Florida Tech 75, Eckerd 75
Overtime:
- After Ford-Belton won the overtime tip, Sterling White III went right to work. He pulled up from the elbow to open the scoring before draining a three from the wing to give the Panthers a five-point lead in the first minute of OT.
- Eckerd answered the White III run with two free throws, but after an alley-oop layup from Logan Allen, Tech led 84-77 at the midway point.
- Even with the Tritons hitting a three and getting to the line for two more freebies, Ca'Darrius Sowell and Greyson Williams iced the game with free throws of their own.
FINAL SCORE - Florida Tech 87, Eckerd 85
COACHES CORNER:
- Head Coach Will Murphy on the overtime thriller, "It was great to get our first win in the Clemente Center. Every game in this league is going to be a battle, we won the rock fight by making one more play".
NOTABLE PANTHERS:
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Tech gets their first win at home, improving to 1-1 in the Clemente Center this season.
- Nine different Panthers scored at least two points, five Panthers recorded double-digit points.
UP NEXT: Florida Tech Men's and Women's basketball are set to host the Florida Tech Holiday Classic. From Dec. 19
th to the 21
st, there will be seven total basketball games at the Clemente Center. Men's Hoops will play Claflin University and Michigan Tech, with Lynn University playing both teams as well. Visit the basketball schedule page for the full game slate.
For the latest news, updates and information on the Florida Tech Men's Basketball, visit FloridaTechSports.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Panthers news by following Florida Tech Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
