DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? The fourth-ranked Embry-Riddle men's basketball team improved its record to 11-0 with a 82-71 win over Hobart (N.Y.) (4-5) on the first day of the 2007 Land of Magic Classic, Friday at the ICI Center. The Eagles are off to the second-best start in program history since the 2000-01 campaign when they won their first 12 games en route to a program-best 32-4 overall record.

Friday's contest marked the 12th anniversary of the Eagles' participation in the Land of Magic Classic. ERAU notched its first tournament win against Hobart on Dec. 29, 1995.

The Eagles struggled to get their offense going early in the contest. They converted on only four of their first 14 attempts and found themselves down by 10 points with nine minutes left in the first half.

Following a media timeout at the 10:01 mark, the Blue and Gold went on a 15-4 run to take a 28-24 lead with 7:13 remaining.

Both teams traded baskets over the remainder of the first frame, but the Eagles, thanks in part to a 3-for-3 three-point performance by Danny Deaver, went into the locker room with a 40-36 halftime lead.

Embry-Riddle extended its advantage to 10 points early in the second period as Eric Lorenzi, Tyler DeBord, Rocky Pierre and Denver Cobb each tallied two points in the first 3:20 of the half.  The Statesmen managed to get within five points, but the Eagles connected on 17 of 22 free throw attempts, with Cobb and Pierre contributing 12 and 10 points, respectively to help the Eagles pull out the 11-point win.

Cobb finished as the game's high scorer with 17, while Pierre contributed 16 and Deaver tacked on 12 points. Tyler DeBord recorded his second double-double of the year with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Ryan Ridder added five points, pulled down eight boards and dished out a game-high five assists.

Tim Llewellyn was the leading scorer for the Statesmen with 13 points, and Adam Salzmann and John Grazioli added 11 points each.

The Eagles return to the court at 8 p.m. on Saturday when they take on St. Lawrence (N.Y.) on the second day of the Land of Magic Classic.