WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team claimed a 71-62 victory over Eckerd College on Saturday night at Rubin Arena.

The 'Fish turned around a halftime deficit, outpacing the Tritons 43-27 in the second half.

Preston Le Gassick led the charge with 24 points, hitting 8-of-10 from the free-throw line and dishing out four assists. This marked his second consecutive game with at least 8 field goals, underscoring his reliable offensive output. Alvin Tumblin Jr. fortified the defense with two blocks and grabbed eight rebounds, marking his sixth straight game with at least eight points, highlighting his steady scoring. Christian Kirkland added 11 points and nine rebounds, along with two blocks. He set a season-high by sinking five free throws, boosting the team's score. Graham Worland contributed defensively with three steals and eight boards.

The first half was a tightly contested battle, with the Sailfish matching Eckerd's 16 points in the paint and adding 14 from the bench. Le Gassick's two clutch free throws kept the game tied at 18 midway through the half.

Kirkland's layup briefly put PBA ahead, but the Tritons answered with a scoring burst, including a 3-pointer from Miquel Llompart. Blake Wilson's 3-pointer and layup helped close the gap, but EC held a 35-28 lead at the break.

The Sailfish quickly leveled the score at 40 with Tyler Burton's three-pointer at 16:39, sparking a scoring spree. A 12-2 run, capped by Le Gassick's layup at 11:17, pushed the lead to 54-40. PBA capitalized on consistent free-throw shooting, including Blake Wilson's three straight makes at 12:16, extending the lead to 50-40. The Tritons scored just five points in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

In the final stretch, the 'Fish kept the momentum, with Tumblin blocking a shot at 7:25 and converting a layup at 5:36. The home team took advantage of the Tritons' turnovers and fouls, stretching the lead to 71-62 by game's end. The Sailfish sealed the half with a 43-27 edge, ensuring a commanding victory.

The Tritons bested the Sailfish on the boards, 51-44, including an 18-10 advantage in offensive rebounding. PBA made up for it by forcing 14 Triton turnovers, leading to 13 points.

PBA travel to Winter Park next Saturday for a matchup against Rollins. The game is set to tip-off at 4:00 p.m.