THOMASVILLE, Ga. - The NAIA No. 3 Embry-Riddle Eagles never trailed in a 64-51 win over Point University on Friday night in the opener of the TU Classic presented by State Farm Insurance. The Eagles (4-0) held the Skyhawks (2-6) to just 34-percent shooting from the floor, getting a double-double of 12 rebounds and 12 assists from junior DeForest Carter and a game-high 14 points from senior Rico Saldana.

The Eagles will take on Truett McConell tomorrow, Saturday, Nov, 16 at 2 p.m. in Thomasville.

Jason Powell opened the scoring for the Blue and Gold with a jumper just 30 seconds into the contest, but the Eagles were unable to pull away from the Skyhawks and Traevon Greshma pulled his team even with a jumper at the 13:11 mark to knot the game at 12-12.

An offensive rebound and lay-in by Saldana broke the deadlock a few plays later, and Embry-Riddle never looked back, ending the half on a 25-7 run.

Daniel Kiesling, making his 2013-14 season debut for the Eagles, buried his first trey attempt of the year with 11 minutes remainging in the period, followed by a Dalton Barnes triple that extended the ERAU lead to 20-12.

Barnes doubled his three-pointer total with his second at the 4:54 mark that sparked an 11-3 run for the Eagles, including a dunk and jumper from Saldana, as well as a Powell jumper and several Eagle free throws that brought the game to the half with ERAU in front, 37-19.

Coming out of the half, Powell buried a trey to give the Eagles a 21 point cushion, and the lead would swell to its largest of 24 when Reed Ridder hit a three-pointer off a Carter assist at the 13:36 mark as the Eagles led 50-26.

Both teams traded baskets for the remainder of the game until Point ended the game on an 11-4 run to close to within 13 at the final buzzer.

Saldana finished with 14 on 7-of-13 shooting from the field while Powell was the only other Eagle in double-figures with 10. Carter's 12 boards and 12 assists both marked team season-highs.

ERAU shot 41-percent from the field and 61-percent from the charity stripe, outrebounded the Skyhawks 43-36 and scored 24 points in the paint and 15 second chance points.