DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Embry-Riddle saw a 10-point lead with under 10 minutes left evaporate as the visiting Tritons of Eckerd used 41 free throw attempts to escape the ICI Center with a 70-68 win over the Eagles. ERAU drops to 2-2 on the season while the Tritons improve to 2-2. The Eagles had a chance to win it at the buzzer on a Dalton Barnes desperation three from just past mid-court, but his shot sailed wide and the Tritons held on.

Just as in their two meetings last season, the Eagles and Tritons flexed their muscles defensively, with both offenses shooting under 40 percent for the night and a total of 51 fouls called, 31 on the hosts. The Eagles lost three players during the course of the game due to foul outs and were outrebounded for the first time all season, 41-39.

Dillon Graham provided a spark for the Eagles in the opening half, scoring 11 points in the first seven minutes of play, including three three-pointers and a put-back dunk off a Shaquan McArthur miss. Graham's third triple made it 20-9 in favor of the home team, but the Tritons battled back with six straight points before Barnes stopped the bleeding with a driving layup at the 10:48 mark, making it 22-15.

The Eagles held a few possession lead for most of the first half, but the Tritons again made a run to get within three at 29-26 when Drushaun McLaurn hit a jumper in the paint with three and a half minutes to go. Cole Hunter followed suit with a 6-0 personal run with three free throws and a three-pointer that pushed the lead back to nine, and after an Eckerd free throw with six seconds left in the half, the Blue and Gold took a 35-27 lead into the break.

The Eagles came out of the half with a nice offensive rhythm, growing the advantage to 10 when Luka Majstorovic made a jumper at the 17-minute mark, but Eckerd would go on a 9-0 run to trim the lead down to just one at 44-43. The score stayed unchaged for over three minutes until Skyler Hogan connected on a runner in the paint, and ERAU's defense held steady for the next couple Triton possessions, as Eckerd went over seven minutes without scoring.

Unfortunately, the Eagles could only increase their lead to 10 and when Matt Beneduci made a pair of free throws with 8:50 left, the visitors started an 18-7 run, capped by a Shane Phillips free throw to give Eckerd a 61-60 lead at the 2:37 mark.

The teams traded buckets for the next 90 seconds and Barnes tied things up at 66-66 with a layup and just 54 seconds remaining. Eckerd made 1-of-2 free throws to take a one-point lead, and the Eagles came up empty from long range twice on the next possession, forcing the Eagles to foul Walsh who made both free throws for a 69-66 advantage.

Barnes was fouled on the ensuing possession, making both free throws before the Eagles again fouled Walsh with 3.4 seconds left. Walsh missed the first, but made the second at the line, and Barnes received the in-bounds, raced into the front-court before pulling up from just inside the half for what would have been the game-winner had it not sailed wide.

The Eagles were led by Barnes' and Hogan's 16 points each, while Hogan posted his second straight double-double with 10 rebounds. Graham had 11 points and four assists while Hunter chipped in 10.

McLaurn and Walsh each finished with 18 for the Tritons as Eckerd went 28-for-41 from the charity stripe.

Embry-Riddle wraps up its season-opening homestand by hosting the 2016 Daytona Mitsubishi/Kia Shootout next weekend. The Eagles will square off against St. Augustine's on Friday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. before playing Saturday, Nov. 26.