DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. – The Embry-Riddle men's basketball team continued its winning ways Thursday night at the ICI Center against NAIA opponent Truett McConnell as the Eagles became the first SSC team to hit the 10-win mark this season, soaring past the Bears 110-51. The Eagles (10-1) used hot shooting and an overwhelming advantage on the glass to stifle the Bears' (6-7) offense as they won their fourth straight game for the second time this season and recorded the program's largest margin of victory since a 119-58 defeat of College of the Bahamas on Nov. 3, 2007.
Romeo Crouch and
Chris Murray led the way in scoring for the Eagles, with Crouch doing all his damage in the first half, scoring 22 points and draining six of seven three-pointers to go with a pair of steals. Murray posted 14 points in the first 20 minutes and finished the night with career-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including a pair of threes.
Dru Nickson (12 points) and Calvin Freeman (10 points) also got to double figures in the second half of the contest.
Embry-Riddle scored the first points of the evening just a minute into the contest on a pair of Murray free throws, and never looked back. After a three by Anthony Bonilla made it a 9-5 contest, the Eagles would open things up behind the efforts of Crouch and Murray, who helped build a sizeable cushion for the Blue and Gold through the middle of the first half courtesy of some extended scoring runs. The Eagles ended the first 20 minutes of play on an 18-2 run, as they took a 52-22 advantage into the locker room.
The second half saw most of the reserves for Embry-Riddle get some extended playing time as all players who dressed for the game saw the floor.
Danny Sully pulled down five second half boards and scored four points, while Nickson posted nine of his 12 points late in the half. Freeman, playing in just his third game of the season, posted a career high 10 points as he went 3-of-4 from the field with a pair from long range. His last three-pointer gave the Eagles their biggest lead of the night at 59 with just over a minute to play.
The Eagles shot over 48 percent from the floor in the game, and were just as efficient from long range, going 18-37 on threes. Embry-Riddle owned the glass throughout the game, finishing with a 57-23 advantage in that department.
The Bears, who were playing the contest as an exhibition, had a tough time getting anything going on offense, shooting just over 35 percent from the floor in the game. Bonilla and Enocka Franky both chipped in 12 points, while Marlon Allen added 10 of his own. Franky also led the team in rebounds with six.
The Eagles will be back in action once more before the holidays on Saturday, as they welcome Fort Valley State to the ICI Center for a 7 p.m. contest.
