WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Embry-Riddle men's basketball team improved its overall record to 6-1 with an 87-60 defeat of Medgar Evers on the opening day of play at the Gallaudet Tournament on Saturday. The Eagles' were led offensively by junior Ray Graham who registered a double-double with a season-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, and junior Blake Touchard who added 18 points. The Blue and Gold also got a boost off the bench from sophomore Josh Seidel who tallied a career-high 15 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes of action.

For the second straight contest, the Eagles started off shooting the ball well from long range in the first period, converting on 57.1 percent (8-of-14) of their three-point attempts. Glenn Dalcourt (3-of-4) and Touchard (4-of-4) combined for seven of those three-point baskets to help the Blue and Gold take a 55-29 lead into the intermission.

Overall, the Eagles shot 62.1 from the field in the first half and their offense was enhanced by a defense that recorded seven steals and forced 14 turnovers, and outdid the Cougars 16-7 on the defensive boards.

Touchard got the scoring started for the Blue and Gold with his first three pointer of the night and knocked down another long range jumper on the Eagles' second possession of the game to take a 6-4 advantage over the Cougars. Embry-Riddle quickly widened the gap and a 24-10 run midway through the half helped the Eagles to the 26-point halftime advantage.

Although the Eagles experienced a drop-off in their shooting, managing only 30 percent from the field in the second half, they still managed to build their lead up to as many as 31 points with 4:06 left in the game. Seidel led the way with 13 of his 15 points, including three of four from beyond the arc to help the Eagles to the 27-point win.

Jovan Deere finished as the high scorer for Medgar Evers. James Gilmore and Winston Douglas finished with 11 points apiece, with Douglas pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds as the Cougars fell to 2-3 on the year.

The Eagles close out tournament play at 6 p.m. on Sunday. They will play the winner of Saturday's nightcap between host Gallaudet and Maryland Bible College.