DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Less than 24 hours after suffering its first non-conference regular season loss in four years, the Embry-Riddle men's basketball team managed one of its most impressive wins in recent memory, as the Eagles, without three regular starters, relied on the front court of Nashad Mackey and Luka Majstorovic to down Wingate, 59-49 in the Bahama House Shootout. The Eagles (4-3) had just seven players see action in the game, and despite shooting a season-low 37 percent from the floor on offense, turned in the best defensive effort of the year, holding the Bulldogs (2-5) to 32 percent from the floor and just 17 percent from three en route to the 10-point victory.

Mackey and Majstorovic both turned in double-double performances, with Mackey, who earned an All-Tournament Team nod, going for 17 points, 15 rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Majstorovic finishing with 14 points, 10 boards and three blocks for the Blue and Gold.

Majstorovic owned the first five minutes, scoring eight of the Eagles' first 10 points before Elijah Jenkins hit a three to extend the ERAU lead to 13-7 with 15 minutes to play in the first half.

Wingate got to within one at 16-15 on a Neico Robinson jumper at the 9:46 mark, but ERAU went on a quick 6-0 spurt, led by Joshua Hawkins, to go back in front by seven, 22-15. Over the next few minutes the team's went back-and-forth, with the two defenses winning most of the battles, but after the Bulldogs again got to within one possession at the two-minute mark, the home team ended the half on a 5-0 run, all thanks to Cole Hunter as the sophomore hit a pair of free throws before nailing a triple to account for the 32-25 halftime score.

Majstorovic had 10 points and six rebounds and the break to lead the way for the Eagles, as Robinson scored 13 points on four field goals and five free throws for Wingate. Robinson would score just two more points in the final 20 minutes as ERAU held him in check and turned a seven-point halftime cushion into a lead as big as 12 late in the contest.

ERAU went scoreless over the first four minutes of the second period, missing all four field goals and turning the ball over twice, but still led the Bulldogs, 32-30 before Mackey was fouled and converted both free throws to stop the Wingate run.

The Eagles couldn't pull away, despite Mackey and Majstorovic combining to score the first 13 ERAU points in the second half. After the visitors got to within 41-40 at the 9:13 mark, Mackey made a layup and then made two more free throws to push the lead back to five, and after a defensive stop by the Blue and Gold, Jenkins made the first of his two huge second-half threes, giving ERAU a 48-40 advantage. Jenkins then assisted on a Hunter layup as the Eagle lead went to double-digits, and Jenkins drove the nail into the Wingate coffin with a corner three at the 4:18 mark that made it 55-44 Embry-Riddle.

The Eagles forced seven consecutive Bulldog misses after Jenkins' three, and Mackey iced the game with another pair of free throws with 37 seconds left before Wingate finally made a field goal with 25 seconds to go.

The Eagles dominated the glass, owning a 42-32 rebounding advantage, while Majstorovic had three of ERAU's six blocks on the day, and Koby Carlton came off the bench to register a game and career-high four assists. Jenkins joined Mackey and Majstorovic in double-figures with 12 points, while Hunter finished with seven and Hawkins went for six points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals while playing all 40 minutes of the game for the Blue and Gold.

The Eagles return to Sunshine State Conference play on Wednesday, Nov. 29 when they travel to Winter Park to take on Rollins at 7:30 p.m.

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