AVE MARIA, Fla. - The third-ranked Embry-Riddle Eagles turned up the defensive intensity in the second half of Thursday's 70-60 road win over Ave Maria, turning a seven-point halftime deficit into a 10-point win thanks to a 36-19 advantage in the final period. Embry-Riddle (18-2, 7-1) held the Gyrenes (7-12, 1-7) to just 25-percent from the field in the second half, including a 2-for-12 effort from long range to earn the 599th win in Head Coach Steve Ridder's career.

The Gyrenes shot at a 63-percent clip in the opening half, shooting 7-for-12 from long range thanks to Matt Chattin and John Russo's three-point shooting. The Eagles found themselves in a 12-point hole midway through the first half, but the visitors were able to get within seven at the break.

Rico Saldana scored the first basket of the game with a jumper, but Russo answered with a triple, the first of seven the hosts hit in the opening half. After a Dalton Barnes trey, Saldana again hit a jump shot as ERAU stretched its leads to 7-3.

The Gyrenes battled back to take a slim lead before going up 17-13 on a Chattin three with 13 minutes on the clock, and a Russo conversion a few minutes later from deep made the score 27-15 in favor of AMU.

Looking for a spark, the Eagles turned to Reed Ridder who came off the bench to hit a big trey with 8:18 left in the half, ending an Ave Maria run.

The Eagles got to within seven at the break on a DeForest Carter bucket in the paint, following a Russo three that had AMU up by nine.

Barnes scored the first four points of the second half and the Eagles went on an 8-2 run to cut the Gyrene lead to 43-41 in under four minutes of play. Chattin hit back-to-back threes on the next two Gyrene possessions as AMU went up 49-46 with 14 minutes left, but the Eagles would not allow AMU to hit another from deep.

Ridder's second three of the night cut the deficit to 52-51 and Cesar Pastrana put the visitors up for good with a layup off a Daniel Kiesling assist on the next trip down the floor.

Jason Powell hit a three-pointer and Ridder followed with his third of the evening as Embry-Riddle grew its lead to 60-52 with 7:32 left in the second half.

ERAU held a comfortable lead over the final five minutes of the contest as the Gyrenes couldn't find anything to work offensively.

Barnes led the Eagles with 20 points and five assists while Saldana, Pastrana and Ridder all added 12 points for the Blue and Gold.

Embry-Riddle shot 60-percent for the game, recording 20 assists on 27 field goals and outrebounded Ave Maria 29-20.

ERAU's next game is slated for Saturday, Jan. 25 at the ICI Center against Warner at 7 p.m.