DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - After winning 14 straight games from Nov. 13 - Jan. 5, the NAIA II No. 2 Embry-Riddle Eagles face a different type of streak: a two-game losing skid. The Eagles surrendered a 19-point first half lead to the visiting #17 St. Thomas Bobcats on Saturday night, dropping an 81-78 decision in the ICI Center. The Bobcats improve to 15-3 overall and a perfect 5-0 in conference play while the Eagles slip to 16-3 and 3-2. St. Thomas now has a two-game lead over everyone else in The Sun Conference.
The beginning of the game could not have been scripted any better for the Eagles, just a few days after dropping a conference game to unranked Southeastern on Wednesday, Embry-Riddle looked to be in complete control over the Bobcats, leading by as many as 19 in the first half.
A 4-4 tie was broken by a
Daniel Mondragon three-pointer at the 17:25 mark in the first, and that sparked a 19-4 run for the home team that included five three-pointers, two from Mondragon, two from
Billy Serle and one from
DeForest Carter as the Eagles opened up a 23-8 advantage with just over 12 minutes to go in the half.
Embry-Riddle stretch the lead to 19 on a Mondragon fast break layup and just a few minutes later Carter's second three of the night pushed ERAU's lead to 35-16.
However, St. Thomas chipped away at the deficit over the final five minutes, ending the half by outscoring the Blue and Gold by 13 to enter half time down just 45-39.
Mondragon led the Eagles with 11 first half points while Carter added nine points and six assists. Kevin Hincapie shot 6-for-10 from the floor, including a 4-for-8 clip from deep to lead all scorers with 16.
The first eight minutes of the second half proved to be the Eagles undoing as St. Thomas began the period on a 13-0 run to take a 52-45 lead with 15:03 remaining in the game. The Bobcats got out in transition easily, scoring most of their early second half baskets on the fast break.
The Bobcats turned a six-point half time deficit to a 10-point advantage when Zakary Hackett made a layup with 12:03 left, but the Eagles were able to slowly get back into the game thanks to free throw shooting.
The Eagles, down nine with just over nine minutes left, got a three-pointer from
Billy Serle and seven free throws from
Jason Powell and Carter to take a one-point lead at 68-67 with five minutes left.
The Bobcats scored the next eight points, including three-pointers from Hincapie and Hackett to go up 75-68 with just under three minutes on the clock.
Embry-Riddle got to within one possession several times over the next few moments, and when
Cesar Pastrana made a pair of free throws with 36 seconds left, the Eagles trailed just 79-77.
Carter forced a Bobcat turnover on the next St. Thomas possession and was fouled by the visitors with 11 seconds left, sending the sophomore to the charity stripe with a chance to tie the contest.
Carter missed the first, but made the second free throw to bring the Eagles to within one at 79-78.
Floyd Battle converted both his free throws with eight ticks left on the clock and Carter's desperation three-point attempt as time expired was no good and the Bobcats emerged with the 81-78 victory.
Hincapie finished with 23 points for STU, while four other Bobcats were in double-figures. St. Thomas shot 51 percent from the floor and an impressive 53 percent (9-for-17) from beyond the arc.
Carter had 23 points for the Eagles to go along with six rebounds and six assists. Mondragon added 13 points, both Pastrana and
Billy Serle had 12 and Powell chipped in 11 markers for the Eagles.
Embry-Riddle shot just 25 percent in the second half and 36 percent for the game, despite grabbing 17 offensive rebounds.
The Eagles travel to Webber International on Tuesday in another Sun Conference tilt. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
