MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle men's basketball team saw a late three-point lead slip away to Tiffin (Ohio) on Tuesday afternoon as the Dragons ended the game on a 10-3 run to beat the Eagles in both team's opening game at the Florida Tech Winter Classic. The Eagles (7-6) allowed Tiffin (4-7) to shoot better than 57 percent from the field and outscore them by 20 (58-38) in the paint as ERAU dropped its third straight contest.

ERAU, still without the services of Nashad Mackey and several others, saw six players reach double-figures, including 20 points each from Luka Majstorovic and Alston Jones, but it wasn't enough to match Tiffin who placed four in double-figures, including four players that scored 22-plus.

A close game throughout, the Eagles battled back after being down eight (77-69) at the nine-minute mark of the second half, tying the game on a Jones and-one with six minutes to play, 82-82. ERAU answered each of the Dragons' next three buckets and Jones gave ERAU a 90-88 lead with a jumper at the 2:44 mark.

After a made free throw by TU, Chris Murray came up. with a layup with 2:14 to play to give the Eagles a 92-89 lead, but it would be the last points ERAU would make for over two minutes. The Dragons scored seven straight, including a layup with 10 seconds left to go up 96-92. Joshua Hawkins hit a three with five seconds to play and the Eagles had one more chance after TU went 1-for-2 at the free throw line for a 97-95 lead. However, the Eagles turned the ball over on the ensuing in-bounds pass and Tiffin iced it at the free throw line.

Tiffin took a 54-53 lead into the lockerroom, despite a strong first half from Majstorovic with 12 points and five boards.

Joining Majstorovic and Jones in double-figures were Tylin Lockett-Fuller with 15, Elijah Jenkins with 13 and both Hawkins and Cj Henagan with 10.

ERAU will take on Columbia International tomorrow at 3:30 to conclude the FIT Winter Classic.