ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – E.J. Moody and Jerrick Stevenson each scored 17 points as Eckerd College defeated Young Harris College 85-72 in a non-conference men's basketball game Tuesday (Nov. 25) evening at the McArthur Center.

The Tritons improved to 2-1 while the Mountain Lions fell to 2-2. Young Harris continues its Florida swing Friday (Nov. 28) at 5 p.m. when they face the University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras in Miami Shores, Florida, on the opening day of Odio Thanksgiving Classic hosted by Barry University.

Eckerd took a 41-40 lead at the half as Kevin Walsh nailed a three-pointer in the final seconds. The first half saw 12 lead changes and the score tied 10 other times.

The Mountain Lions tied the game for the final time at 45 on Bjorn Walker's layup with 17:21 remaining before a Moody three-pointer and an old-fashioned three-point play sandwiched around a YHC turnover gave the Tritons a 51-45 lead with 16:09 to play.

"We didn't do the things that we need to do in order to be successful tonight," said Young Harris head coach Pete Herrmann. "We got outrebounded (40-31), we committed too many turnovers (15 turnovers to nine assists) and allowed them to shoot a high percentage (56.6 percent)."

Young Harris got a close as four points (55-51) when C.J. Wilson connected a jumper with 12:02 left. Eckerd put the game out of reach as they outscored the Mountain Lions 16-3 over the next six minutes to open up a 71-54 lead on a Stevenson free throw with 5:51 remaining.

The Mountain Lions battled back with a 15-4 run of their own and got as close as six points (75-69) when Wilson sank a three-pointer with 2:32 to play, but Eckerd scored the next eight points to quell the YHC rally.

Ray Darnell and Malcolm Brunner Jr. each finished with 10 points for the Tritons while Stevenson led Eckerd with nine rebounds.

Isaiah Johnson scored 22 points and had eight steals in his first game back in the lineup since suffering a hand injury in the season opener against Tennessee Temple University.  Wilson finished with 18 points and five assists while Kevin Altidor had 10 points and nine rebounds before he fouled out.