DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Despite an apparent game-tying three pointer from Blake Touchard as time expired, the Eagles dropped their 2011-12 Sun Conference opener to visiting St. Thomas, 76-73 in the ICI Center. Touchard's shot was judged to come after the final buzzer sounded, giving the Bobcats their first league win of the year. ERAU slips to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play while STU moves to 2-6 overall and 1-1 in The Sun Conference.

The Eagles opened the game with a 9-2 run, thanks to a some nice inside play from Sam Ford.  Ford scored eight of ERAU's first 13 points and the Blue and Gold pushed their lead to 20-15 at the 7:11 mark.

A 12-0 run by Embry-Riddle gave the Eagles' their biggest lead of the game at 27-15, but St. Thomas battled back to a 33-31 deficit at halftime thanks to 10 points from Eugene Davis.

Ford and Davis led all scorers at the half with 10 each, while DeForest Carter chipped in six markers and three rebounds for ERAU. Embry-Riddle took advantage of 12 first half Bobcat turnovers, scoring 12 points off them.

The second period featured nine ties and seven lead changes, as well as one of the more exciting finishes of the season. Twice ERAU had a five-point margin with a chance to stretch it to more, but STU was resilient, tying the game at 43-43 with 15 minutes left in regulation before taking a three-point lead on a Davis three-pointer.

Over the next few minutes each team took small leads but were unable to increase them to more than six points.

With STU leading 59-53 with more than eight and a half minutes left, the Eagles outscored the visitors 8-2 to knot the score at 61-61. St. Thomas kept going to Davis, and the senior guard delivered, including the final points of the game, two free throws with 10 seconds left.

With the Eagles trailing by three with the possession, Touchard attempted a trey with three seconds remaining, but the shot glanced off the iron and went over the backboard for STU ball. The ensuing in-bounds play went off a Bobcat out of bounds, giving ERAU one final chance with 0.3 seconds on the clock. Touchard was again the target, and his 30 foot heave from in front of the Eagle bench found nothing but net, however, the referee closest to Touchard ruled that the ball had not left his hands in time, sending ERAU to their fourth-straight loss of the year.

Davis finished 8-for-12 from the floor and 4-for-6 from the line for 24 points. He also pulled down six rebounds in the win. The Bobcats out-rebounded the hosts, 41-23 in the game, including 14 offensive boards.

Touchard led ERAU with 17 points on 5-for-14 shooting from the field. Ford was a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor and 4-for-5 from the charity stripe for a season-high 14 points.

Ray Graham and Carter also scored in double-figures with 14 and 10 respectively. ERAU shot 42.6% for the game, compared to 52.7% for the Bobcats.

Embry-Riddle will look to end their skid when they travel to Ave Maria to take on the Gyrenes on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Sun Conference action.