GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Embry-Riddle (10-1) v. Rio Grande (4-7)
DATE: Friday, Dec. 14, 2012
CITY: Daytona Beach, Fla.
SITE: ICI Center (1,968)
TIP-OFF: 7 p.m.
LIVE STATS: Stretch Internet
LIVE AUDIO: Stretch Internet
LIVE VIDEO: Stretch Internet
ON THE RADIO: WELE 1380 AM
CURRENT STREAK: W8
LAST 5 GAMES: 5-0
LAST 10 GAMES: 9-1
AT HOME IN 2012: 7-1
SERIES: Embry-Riddle leads, 1-0
LAST MEETING: Embry-Riddle 92, Rio Grande 85 (Dec. 19, 2000 - Hilo, Hawaii)
AT A GLANCE
The Eagles, fresh off receiving their highest-ranking in nearly two years (No. 4), host their sixth and most-likely final NAIA I opponent of the 2012-13 season in the RedStorm of Rio Grande (Ohio). Embry-Riddle is riding an eight-game winning streak, but has not played a game in 11 days and will not play another contest until Dec. 29.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
After nearly two weeks off, the Eagles will look to avoid any rust against the RedStorm, a team that is coming off a huge exhibition road win against NCAA I Campbell on Wednesday night. Sophomore Cesar Pastrana has become the Eagles' offensive force over the last few weeks, leading the Blue and Gold scoring threat in four of the last five contests. Similarly, the RedStorm's D.D. Joiner has exploded onto the scene as a freshman, pouring in over 16 points per game as a 6-4 shooting guard.
SCOUTING RIO GRANDE
Ken French, in his seventh season as Rio Grande's Head Coach, brings his team south to Daytona Beach after perhaps the biggest win in French's tenure...a win that won't ever be reflected in the win-loss record for the RedStorm. Rio Grande (4-7), in the midst of a five-game road swing, took down NCAA I Campbell (N.C.) on Wednesday night, 67-65 in a game that the Camels never led, but were without their leading scorer due to an injury.
Joiner, a native of Columbus, Ohio, is shooting 51 percent from the field but just 31 percent from beyond the arc in averaging 16.1 points per game. Joiner is on the floor more than any other RedStorm team member at 26.7 minutes a game, followed by point guard Jermaine Warmack's 26.5 minutes per contest. Warmach dishes out 4.7 assists each game and manages 2.4 steals for Rio Grande.
LAST GAME: Redfield Leads Eagles in 89-32 Win Over DeVry
MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle Eagles came away with an afternoon victory over DeVry (Fla.) on Dec. 3, defeating the Skyhawks, 89-32 in a neutral site contest. Senior Ben Redfield scored a career-high 18 points for the eighth-ranked Eagles, helping the Blue and Gold improve its record to 10-1 overall, stretching the Eagles' winning streak to eight.
FIRST HAWAII, NOW DAYTONA BEACH
The only previous meeting between the Eagles and RedStorm was in December of 2000 in Hilo, Hawaii. Rio Grande (at that time, named the Redmen), shot over 50 percent for the game, but were forced into 18 turnovers leading to 25 points for the Eagles as Embry-Riddle emerged with a 92-85 victory in the Aloha State. Seniors Kyle Mas and Heath Fabacher each scored 21 points for Embry-Riddle in the win.
FORK UNION REUNION
Embry-Riddle junior Rico Saldana and Rio Grande junior Makka Garba have something in common: both attended Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Va. The pair of big men will probably be matched up at some point on Friday night as Saldana and Garba both play over 13 minutes per game.
O-H-I-OPPONENTS
The Eagles are 9-5 all-time against teams from the state of Ohio, including a win in their last contest against an Ohio squad, 101-57 over Mt. Vernon Nazarene during the 2010-11 season.
NINTH TIME AT NO. 4
The Eagles received their ninth No. 4 ranking on Tuesday evening in the NAIA II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, jumping up one spot from No. 5. Embry-Riddle has now been ranked in the top five 50 times since the inception of the program in 1988-89.
FOOD BRINGS HOPE
The Embry-Riddle athletic department, in conjunction with the Eagles' basketball game on Friday night, will host approximately 350 elementary and middle school aged children as part of the Food Brings Hope initiative. The evening will include pizza and a presentation by Steve Lochte, father of US Olympic swimmer and gold medalist, Ryan Lochte. This is the fourth straight year the ERAU Athletic department has partnered with Food Brings Hope.
TRIPLE DIGITS? CHECK, CHECK, CHECK AND CHECK
The Blue and Gold have four players that have reached the century mark offensively, including DeForest Carter, Pastrana, Jason Powell and Saldana. Carter is the current career-leader in points for the Eagles, recording 513 points in 43 games for Steve Ridder's Eagles.
QUARTER CENTURY OF EAGLE BASKETBALL
The 2012-13 season marks the 25th edition of Eagle basketball and Embry-Riddle athletics overall. The basketball, baseball, men's tennis and men's golf programs began in the 1988-89 academic year and were the foundation the rest of the department was built upon.
Embry-Riddle is 565-235 in 24 seasons, capturing eight conference regular season titles, nine conference tournament titles, claiming 17 NAIA All-America honors, 15 Honorable Mention All-American honors and reaching the pinnacle of NAIA basketball in 2000 when the Eagles won the NAIA II National Championship.
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#4 Embry-Riddle (10-1)
v.
Rio Grande (4-7)
12/14/12 | Daytona Beach, Fla. - ICI Center | 7 p.m.
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1st |
2nd |
Total |
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Rio Grande |
386 |
421 |
807 |
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Embry-Riddle |
441 |
449 |
890 |
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Stats at a Glance |
RG |
ERAU |
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FG Percentage |
302-674 (.448) |
319-625 (.510) |
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OPP FG Percentage |
274-648 (.416) |
245-642 (.382) |
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3PT FG Percentage |
70-208 (.337) |
93-253 (.368) |
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FT Percentage |
133-211 (.630) |
159-217 (.733) |
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Offensive Rebounds |
156 |
133 |
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Defensive Rebounds |
305 |
296 |
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Total Rebounds |
461 |
429 |
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Rebounding Margin |
+8.0 |
+8.3 |
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Assists |
14.2 |
19.9 |
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Turnovers |
17.2 |
15.6 |
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Steals |
7.7 |
8.4 |
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Common Opponents |
RG |
ERAU |
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Shawnee State (Ohio) |
L, 70-85 |
W, 94-89 |
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Statistical Leaders |
RG |
ERAU |
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Points |
Joiner - 16.1 |
Carter - 13.3 |
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Rebounds |
Moore - 5.8 |
Saldana - 6.3 |
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Assists |
Warmack - 4.7 |
Carter - 6.7 |
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Steals |
Warmack - 2.4 |
Carter - 3.0 |
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Blocks |
Komakech - 2.1 |
Carter - 1.5 |
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Related Links |
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• 2012-13 Embry-Riddle Basketball Media Guide |
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• 2012-13 Embry-Riddle Stats |
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• 2012-13 Rio Grande Stats |
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