Eagles Fall to Royals 66-62

LAKE WALES, Fla. ? The Embry-Riddle Eagles suffered their second conference loss of the season, falling to the Warner Royals, 66-62, in Lake Wales, Fla. on Saturday.

The Eagles started the first half shooting lights out, as they connected on their first eight field goal attempts. Tyler Debord scored the first bucket of the night, tying the game at 2-2 after a Warner basket by Allan Keen.

The Royals held onto a tight lead for the first three minutes of play, until the Eagles hit back-to-back three pointers to tie the game at 10-10 with 16:27 to play.

Denver Cobb sunk a shot from beyond the arc to give the Eagles the lead, 20-18 at the 14-minute mark, but a Warner free throw and lay-up allowed WU to reclaim the lead at 21-20, just two minutes later.

Debord capitalized on a three-point play to tie the game for the fourth time at 26-26. The Eagles stepped up defensively for the next seven minutes, as they held their opponents to only seven points for the remainder of the half. ERAU held onto a five point lead as they headed into the locker room, 38-33.

Cobb knocked down his fourth three-pointer to start the second half, giving the Eagles an eight point advantage over the Royals, 41-33.

The Royals were unable to connect on their first four field goals of the second half, as the Eagles' picked up their defensive efforts. The Eagles forced a Royal turnover at the 15-minute mark, and Glenn Dalcourt sunk a three from the top of the key to put ERAU up 46-33.

A three from Lamont Houston and a lay up from Errol Porteous put the Royals within six, 48-42, with 11:52 to play in the contest. Ray Graham came up with a steal and a quick jumper to increase the Eagles' margin to eight.

The Royals continued to put up a fight as they came within four points of the Eagles, after a three-point basket by Houston at the six-minute mark.

A foul committed by the Royals sent Cobb to the charity stripe and the senior sunk two free throws, increasing the margin to six, 55-49.

On the next Warner possession, Houston found Porteous down low to move WU within five, shifting the momentum slightly to the hands of the Royals with 4:25 remaining.

Lorenzi and Dalcourt each knocked down a jumper to keep the Eagle lead at seven.
Warner forced two ERAU turnovers over the next two minutes, followed by an intentional foul called on the Eagles, sending Derell Henderson to the line. Henderson drained both free throws to bring the Royals within three, 62-59 with 1:33 remaining. The Royals gained possession after the two made free throws and capitalized on a basket from Mirnes Islamovic' in the paint to pull within one.

The Eagles were unable to connect on a field goal and Lorenzi committed a foul on the ensuing Royal possession, sending Henderson to the line. Henderson hit both free throws, allowing the Royals to reclaim the lead, 63-62, with 30 seconds to go.

The Eagles brought the ball down the court and called a timeout. Cobb in-bounded the ball to Dalcourt, who attempted to put up a shot, but was trapped by the Royals' defense. The ball went out of bounds off a Royal player and the Eagles had one more chance to take the lead in the final 12 seconds. But the in-bound pass went off the hands of Dalcourt and back to the Royals.

Henderson was fouled once again and he hit the first of two free throws, giving the Royals a two point lead. He missed the second, but Porteous got the rebound and connected on a lay-up in the final nine seconds to seal the Royals' 66-62 win.

Cobb led the Eagles with 19 points, connecting on five of eight three-point attempts. Lorenzi tallied 14 points and six r ebounds, while Dalcourt added 10 points. Debord scored nine on the night and dished out four assists.

The Eagles move to 4-2 in the conference and 18-4 on the season.

ERAU will take on the Northwood Seahawks on Wednesday night in the ICI Center. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.