WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - In a role reversal from last season, the Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team couldn't seem to miss at times while Embry-Riddle struggled to find an offensive rhythm, particular from deep, as the Sailfish won the Sunshine State Conference opener, 92-70 at Rubin Arena. The Eagles (2-1, 0-1) fell behind early and could never find their way back, shooting just 40 percent from the floor and 28 percent from three, dropping to 22-4 all-time in conference openers. PBA (4-2, 1-0) exacted some revenge from last season's two blowout wins by Embry-Riddle, shooting a blistering 62 percent from the field and 50 percent from long range.

PBA scored the first bucket at the 18:55 mark and never trailed in the contest, going out to a 12-2 lead on a Marshall Riddle triple before Rudy Bibb-Boyd was able to answer with a three of his own for the Eagles.

A few minutes later, Nashad Mackey grabbed an offensive rebound and scored a layup, making it 19-13 PBA, but the home team had the answers all night, and responded by going up 10 on a Dakota Zinser three with under eight minutes to play in the half.

ERAU got to within six a couple of times in the opening period, but PBA ended the half on a 9-4 run to go into the break leading 41-30.

The Eagles missed their first shot to open the second half, and PBA turned around to score the first seven points of the period, extending its lead to 48-30 before Bibb-Boyd was able to stop the bleeding with a three.

The deficit grew to as many as 23 when De'Ondre Jackson's dunk put PBA up 68-45 with 10:35 left, but the visitors rallied, outscoring the Sailfish 17-5 over the next four minutes, and when Mackey made a three with 6:32 left the Eagles were only down 73-62. However, the Eagles missed a chance to get within single digits when they stole the ball in the next PBA possession, but gave it right back and failed to convert at the free throw line on the next trip down the floor. A Riddle three for PBA pushed the lead back to 14 and the Eagles would get no closer than 13 the rest of the night.

Bibb-Boyd matched a season and career high with 21 points, while Mackey added 14 points and seven rebounds and Joshua Hawkins finished with 13 points and seven boards as well.

ERAU returns to Daytona Beach to host Saint Leo on Saturday, Nov. 18 for a 6 p.m. tip against the Lions.

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