LAKELAND, Fla. - Another classic Sunshine State Conference battle went down to the wire on Saturday as the Embry-Riddle men's basketball team's upset bid of NCAA II No. 7 Florida Southern fell just short on the road, 82-77. The Eagles (14-7, 6-7 SSC) made a huge run late in the game, but the Mocs (19-2, 11-2) made the plays and free throws in the waning moments to hold off the ERAU charge.

Free throws were key in the game as the hosts went 18-for-20 at the line, while the Eagles struggled, making just 14-of-25, a few days after going 11-for-11 against Rollins at home. Romeo Crouch stuffed the stat sheet with a game-high 26 points added to 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Joining Crouch with a double-double was Luka Majstorovic who finished with 17 points and 10 boards, as well as four blocks and three assists. Tylin Lockett-Fuller added 10 points for the Blue and Gold.

ERAU out-shot and out-rebounded the Mocs, but the free throw difference hurt the Eagles in the end, despite a furious comeback staged by Embry-Riddle over the final three minutes.

Florida Southern led 74-60 at the 3:22 mark, but starting with a Nick Heard triple, the visitors went on a 15-2 run. Heard had seven of ERAU's 15 points over that span as the Eagles forced the Mocs into several turnovers and missed shots, as well as a big block by Majstorovic. 

Crouch's three with 31 seconds remaining made it a 76-75 FSC lead, and following an Eagle foul Jair Rodgers hit a pair of free throws before Lockett-Fuller made an uncontested layup to again cut the lead to one with 18 seconds to go.

Brett Hanson was fouled on the ensuing FSC possession, making both with 16 seconds left. Crouch was fouled, but missed the front-end of a one-and-one, and after FSC grabbed the board, the Eagles were forced to foul and the Mocs iced the game at the free throw line.

The game opened evenly, with the two teams tied at 14-14 at the under-12 media timeout of the first half. Neither team led by more than a few possession in the opening period, but the Mocs did end the half on a 7-2 run to take a 39-33 lead into the break.

Second half was much like the first: even, until Florida Southern started to distance themselves from the Eagles around the eight-minute mark, resulting in ERAU's desperate come back over the final few minutes.

Embry-Riddle stays on the road for a Feb. 5 tilt at Palm Beach Atlantic. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. against the Sailfish.