ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team faced Eckerd on the road Saturday evening as they began its second leg of its Sunshine State Conference schedule.
 
The Sailfish got their revenge over the Tritons who defeated PBA (13-6, 6-5 SSC) at home earlier this season. Today's game went very differently from the teams' first matchup this season as tonight's game was a low-scoring affair. The 'Fish forced Eckerd (7-12, 3-8 SSC) into making 19 turnovers and held the hosts to under 40 percent from the field leading to a 65-57 victory for PBA.
 
PBA had four players score in double digits in the contest. Dan Largey was the leading scorer with 16 points; he also scored his 1,000th career point in the first half. Darhius Nunn and Justin Nichelson followed with 11 points each. Nunn's efforts on defense led to four steals for PBA. Jules Jasmin just missed a double-double finishing with 10 points and eight rebounds, while Malek Barber mirrored him with 10 rebounds and eight points of his own.
 
The Sailfish started the game by letting it fly from 3-point range. Three of PBA's first four made baskets in the game came from beyond the arc. A deep ball from Nunn began an 11-4 run for the 'Fish who led 24-15 with six minutes remaining in the first half. The Tritons responded with a 9-2 run to make it a two-point game with a minute remaining in the period. The last bucket of the half was an old-fashioned 3-point play from Largey which made it 29-24 PBA at halftime.
 
14 of Largey's 16 points came in the first period. The Sailfish attempted 18 3-point attempts in the first half and connected on five of them. PBA held Eckerd to an 8-for-22 performance from the field and 10 turnovers in the first period. 
 
Eckerd's halftime adjustments resulted in the Tritons starting the second half on a 9-4 run which gave EC its first lead since the opening tip. PBA answered with a quick 8-0 run, including a layup from Jasmin and 3-pointers from Casey Carpinello and Nunn to retake the lead.
 
The Sailfish extended their lead minutes later thanks Nichelson who singlehandedly went on a 9-0 to give PBA a 52-40 lead with nine minutes left to play. The game seemed to be in hand with PBA leading by 13 with three minutes left, but Eckerd continued to fight. Two free throws and a pair of deep balls from the Tritons made it a six-point game with a minute and a half remaining.
 
Eckerd had the chance to make it a one possession game, but failed to execute on offense down the stretch. Nichelson and Nunn iced the game at the free throw line for PBA and the 'Fish held on for the 65-57 win.
 
PBA outscored Eckerd 18-7 in points off turnovers, including 11 in the second half. The Sailfish totaled 12 steals as a team with four coming from Nunn, three from Carpinello and two from De'Ondre Jackson. PBA also tallied all eight of its second-chance points in the second half.
 
The Sailfish return home to face Florida Tech on Wednesday. The game at Rubin Arena tips-off at 7:30 p.m.