DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? The 11th-ranked Embry-Riddle men's basketball team (13-2) began the new year on a winning note, scoring 57 points in the first half en route to a 104-55 win over Covenant in the first round of the Bahama House/Best Western Aku Tiki Shootout at the ICI Center on Friday.

The Eagles had a balanced effort as all 10 players who took the floor got on the scoreboard with six players scoring in double digits. Denver Cobb paced the Eagle scoring with 19 points, while Ray Graham and Danny Deaver each turned in double-double performances with 17 points, 10 boards and 14 points, 10 rebounds, respectively.
 
Both teams traded baskets to begin the game, making the score 6-5 three minutes into the contest. But the Eagles blew the game open when an Eric Lorenzi jumper sparked a 28-4 run, giving the Eagles a 34-9 advantage with 9:46 remaining in the first half. They led by as many as 32 points before retiring to the locker room with a 57-25 lead at the half.

The Eagles did not let up in the second half. Although the starting five played sparingly in the half, the Eagles got quality minutes from the bench, which scored 26 points and built the lead to as many as 55 points to seal the win.

The Scots' Davis Eldridge led all scorers with 23 points, including a 7-for-15 performance from beyond the arc. Stephen Buchanan added 18 points as Covenant falls to 1-12 on the year.

The Eagles return to the court at 7 p.m. on Saturday to take on Wisconsin Lutheran in the tournament championship game. The Warriors advanced after a 94-82 defeat of Baruch in Friday's opening contest. Covenant will face Baruch in the consolation game at 5 p.m.