BABSON PARK, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle men's basketball team rode a strong second half effort en route to a 72-58 win over host Webber International in both team's Sun Conference opener. The Eagles remained unbeaten, moving to 9-0 overall and 1-0 in league play while the Warriors dropped to 2-6 and 0-1. At the half, the NAIA released its first regular season rankings of the 2013-14 season, and the preseason No. 3 Eagles saw their rise to the top spot in the poll, earning the No. 1 ranking for the 18th time in program history and the first since Feb. 22, 2006.

The first half of Tuesday's game was marred by sloppy play from both teams, and despite shooting 41-percent in the frame and holding WIU to just 36-percent, the Eagles found themselves in front by just two points at 24-22. Embry-Riddle turned the ball over 19 times in the opening period, including four offensive fouls that kept the visitors from getting into any rythym.

ERAU pitched a shutout of the Warriors for the first four minutes, going up 10-0 on a Dalton Barnes' jumper, but the hosts got on the board with a fastbreak layup and both teams went back-and-forth with the Eagles expanind their lead to 17-7 when DeForest Carter registered a layup from a Barnes' assist.

Barnes gave his team a 12-point cushion with a jumper a few moments later, but the Warriors ended the half on a 13-5 run as Embry-Riddle failed to hit a field goal over the final six minutes of the half, going into the break, up 24-22.

A three-pointer from Markitis Paige on the opening possession of the second half gave the Warriors their first lead of the night, but Rico Saldana answered with a lay-in to retake the lead for the Blue and Gold. After a 28-28 tie, Barnes made a layup for the Eagles and the visitors never trailed again, pushing their lead to seven on a Barnes fastbreak trey with 14:44 on the clock.

Back-to-back jumpers from the Warriors cut the Embry-Riddle lead to four at 41-37, but again the Eagles were able to extend the lead on layups from Cesar Pastrana and free throws from Carter.

Jason Powell's triple with nine minutes left gave ERAU an 11-point lead and the Warriors were unable to get back to within less than three possessions until a pair of free throws from Raymond Durant with just under two minutes to play.

The Eagles hit nine of the final 10 free throws down the stretch to secure the victory and register their first win as the top-ranked team in the land since Feb. 24, 2006.

Barnes, in his first Sun Conference game, led all scorers with 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting. The freshman also pulled down eight rebounds for the Blue and Gold. Carter chipped in 17 points, seven assists, five steals, four rebounds and two blocks while Pastrana also reached double-figures offensively with 10 points.

As a team, the Eagles shot 48-percent from the field and 68-percent from the charity stripe, outrebounding WIU 46-31.

The Eagles travel to No. 8 Northwood on Thursday for a top-10 battle at 7 p.m. in West Palm Beach, Fla.

2013 – 14 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll - (Dec. 3)

RANK	LAST WEEK^	SCHOOL (1ST PLACE VOTES)	2013 RECORD*	FINAL POINTS
1	3	Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (7)	8-0	362
2	2	Indiana Wesleyan (1)	8-1	356
3	4	Southern Oregon (1)	8-1	350
4	1	Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) (2)	7-2	344
5	NR	Indiana Southeast (3)	5-2	325
6	6	Robert Morris (Ill.)	7-2	305
7	9	Bethel (Ind.)	8-1	295
8	23	Hastings (Neb.)	9-1	293
8	5	Northwood (Fla.)	3-1	293
10	10	Davenport (Mich.)	6-2	256
11	11	Saint Xavier (Ill.)	6-2	248
12	NR	Dordt (Iowa)	10-1	238
13	NR	Concordia (Ore.)	7-1	234
14	RV	Huntington (Ind.)	9-0	222
15	19	Bellevue (Neb.)	6-2	207
16	8	Midland (Neb.)	8-1	190
17	14	St. Thomas (Fla.)	3-1	184
18	NR	Lourdes (Ohio)	6-2	164
19	RV	Saint Francis (Ind.)	8-3	137
20	NR	College of Idaho	9-3	117
21	24	York (Neb.)	5-1	101
22	NR	St. Ambrose (Iowa)	6-2	92
23	RV	Ashford (Iowa)	7-2	91
24	22	Cal Maritime	7-3	86
25	NR	College of the Ozarks (Mo.)	7-2	84

Others receiving votes: Cornerstone (Mich.) 80; Northwest (Wash.) 67; Southeastern (Fla.) 49; Grace (Ind.) 33; Briar Cliff (Iowa) 32; Friends (Kan.) 28; Tennessee Wesleyan 26; William Penn (Iowa) 14; Clarke (Iowa) 9; Rochester (Mich.) 7; Marian (Ind.) 5; Warner (Fla.) 3