BABSON PARK, Fla. – In one of the most exciting contests of the season, the Eagles mounted a furious late-game rally to edge Webber International 61-59 in Sun Conference action, Saturday at WIU's Sabbagh Athletic Center. DeForest Carter's lay-up and free throw with less than a second left in the game sealed the win for the Blue and Gold who improved to 11-7 overall and 2-2 in league play.

The Blue and Gold got off to a quick start scoring seven unanswered points over the first three minutes of the game. The Eagles were led by Justin Bozzelli who, in the first start of his Embry-Riddle career, tallied five of the Eagles' first 12 points on a tip-in and a three-pointer.

After spotting the Eagles the seven-point lead, the Warriors settled into their offense and went on a 15-5 run over the next six and a half minutes to take over the lead, 15-12. The Warriors capitalized on nine Eagle turnovers to add to the advantage and led by as many as nine points.

With 7:09 remaining in the first stanza, Luke Marlar rose above the Eagle defense for an offensive rebound and put-back, prompting ERAU Head Coach Steve Ridder to call a timeout. The Eagles had a positive response coming out of the timeout as an unassisted dunk by Carter triggered a 10-6 Eagle run that cut the lead to three (31-28) with just under a minute left in the half. Following a Warrior miss, the Eagles got the ball to Graham on the inside and the senior spun to the basket and finished the lay-up to make it a one point game (31-30) at the half.

Graham made up for a free throw he missed at the end of the first half by hitting his first opportunity from the charity stripe of the second half to tie the score at 31-31. The Eagles then took over the lead and at the 12:24 mark, they led by six (41-35). The Blue and Gold held onto the lead, but the Warriors continued to battle and with 4:25 remaining, Tyler Aurbacher hit a three-pointer to put the home team back in front 53-51 and a Marlar layup made it a four-point game (55-51) with 2:47 to play.

On the next Eagle possession, Daniel Mondragon got the ball out to Blake Touchard at the top of the arc and the senior buried the long-range shot to pull the Eagles within one (55-54). Marlar then hit a pair of free throws to make the score 57-54.

With 48 seconds showing on the clock, Mondragon picked Troy Simmons' pocket and completed the outlet pass to Touchard who was fouled in open court. Touchard knocked down both free throws to pull the Blue and Gold back within one (57-56).

Jakeem Hill was fouled on his way to the basket and although he made the layup, he missed the extra point from the free throw line. The Eagles grabbed the rebound with a chance to take the lead but turned the ball over with 16 seconds left to play. The Eagles elected to foul and the strategy paid off as Simmons missed from the charity stripe, but although they were able to best the Warriors on the defensive glass, ERAU gave the ball back to WIU on a turnover with 16 seconds remaining.

The Warriors took the ball out of bounds in the back court but the Eagles' defensive pressure was too much for Marlar and he dribbled the ball out of bounds on the base line, giving the ball back to the Eagles with three ticks left on the clock. On the ensuing play, Mondragon triggered the inbounds pass to Carter who used his athleticism to get to the basket, finish the layup and draw the foul with just 0.8 seconds left in the game. The freshman knocked down the free throw and the Eagles picked off the Warriors' heave down the court to seal the win.

Touchard recorded his first double-double of the year with a game-high 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Ray Graham (13 pts, 6 reb) and Mondragon (10 pts, 4 asts, 5 stls) rounded out the Eagle scorers in doubles figures. Bozzelli finished with a season-high seven points and six boards, while Carter added nine points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals off the bench.

Hill was the high scorer for the Warriors (6-7, 0-4) with 15 points and nine boards, while Marlar and Gabriel Rutledge added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The Eagles will be back in action at 7 p.m. on Thursday when they host top-ranked Northwood at the ICI Center.