DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle men's basketball team returned from the holiday break on Saturday night and immediately fell into a hole against visiting Tampa as the Spartans raced out to a 28-point first half lead. However, the Eagles (8-7, 1-3 SSC) made a valiant comeback attempt in the second half, trimming a 46-23 halftime deficit to just four with six minutes to play, but the Spartans (8-4, 2-2 SSC) were able to hold off the charging hosts down the stretch to move their winning streak against the Eagles to three.
The Eagles welcomed back
Nashad Mackey after a nine-game absence, and the senior nearly recorded a double-double with eight points and a game-high 13 rebounds, but it was one of ERAU's other seniors that led the Eagle comeback in
Alston Jones. Jones went for 23 points, 16 in the second period, for the Blue and Gold.
The first half was dominated by the Spartans as the visitors shot a blistering 61 percent from the field, while the Eagles managed ust 29 percent en route to a 46-23 halftime deficit.
The Eagle comeback started at the 14:21 mark with a Jones layup, making it 53-34.
Luka Majstorovic and
Cj Henagan followed with layups and then Mackey got in on the action with an and-one a few minutes later to cut the UT lead to 56-41.
Tylin Lockett-Fuller's triple and
Chris Murray jumper made it a 12-point game with 10 minutes to play, and Lockett-Fuller then scored the next five points in the game, a layup followed by a three as ERAU got to within seven at 58-51.
After Anthony Gamble converted an and-one to put Tampa back up by double-digits, the Eagles scored six straight, four from Jones and then a Majstorovic jumper that got the Eagles within four, 61-57 with just under six to play.
UT got an offensive put back to stop the Eagle run, and ERAU was never able to recapture the momentum as UT had the answers for every Eagle shot, including going 14-for-15 at the charity stripe over the final five minutes.
Majstorovic joined Jones in double-figures with 14 points, while Lockett-Fuller finished with 12 points.
ERAU stays at home to take on Barry on Jan. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the ICI Center.
