DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Embry-Riddle began the second half of its 2010-11 slate on a positive note, topping Penn State Harrisburg 86-51  in their first game of the 2010 Amerisport Land of Magic Classic. The Eagles were without the services of junior starter Ray Graham who sustained an injury in practice on Monday evening. Senior Brett Rawlings stepped up for the Eagles, registering a double-double with a career-high 26 points and 10 rebounds to help the Eagles improve to 10-1 on the year.

The Nittany Lions won the opening tip and scored the first three points of the game thanks to a three-pointer by Kenton Alston. The Eagles answered with a Brandon Caputo layup and that was the start of a back-and-forth battle that went on for the first four minutes of play.

At the 15:52 mark, Blake Touchard hit his first bucket of the night, which sparked a 15-0 run to put the Eagles up 22-10. The Eagles also helped their cause on the defensive end of the floor as their pressure defense forced nine PSUH turnovers that the Blue and Gold converted into 11 points. 

The Nittany Lions tried to get the outside shot going but managed only 25 percent (2-of-8) from beyond the arc. Any attempt to go inside was met by a swarming Eagle defense, led by three blocks from David Butler, resulting in a 30 percent shooting clip from the field in the first frame. The Eagles also bested the Nittany Lions on the boards, outrebounding the visitors 28-18.

Embry-Riddle was 47.6 percent from field in the first 20 minutes, connecting on 20 of 42 attempts. That shooting percentage helped ERAU take a 47-25 lead into the halftime break.

The start of the second half saw the Eagle lead swell to 33 (61-28) in the first six minutes of play. Although they struggled with the long range shot in the second frame, managing only two out of 14, the Eagles still shot better than 40 percent (16-39) from the field and led by as many as 40 points before closing out the 86-51 win.

Butler finished with 17 points and 15 boards, while Glenn Dalcourt added 12 points to the Eagle tally. ERAU passed the basketball well, collecting 22 assists on 36 made baskets and were led in that category by Touchard and Caputo who finished with six assists apiece.

Kenton Alston paced the Nittany Lions with 23 points and nine rebounds as Penn State Harrisburg fell to 3-6 on the year.

The Eagles close out the Land of Magic Classic at 6 p.m. on Wednesday against Berry (Ga.).