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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Romeo Crouch
Tapatt Tanaboriboon
91
Saint Leo SLU 14-11,8-9 Sunshine State
108
Winner Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 17-9,9-9 Sunshine State
Saint Leo SLU
14-11,8-9 Sunshine State
91
Final
108
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU
17-9,9-9 Sunshine State
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Saint Leo SLU 46 45 91
Embry-Riddle (FL) ERAU 57 51 108

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Ryan Mosher | @ryan_mosher

Offensive Onslaught Propels @ERAUMBasketball to Crucial Win Over Saint Leo, 108-91

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Any and all Embry-Riddle basketball offensive records were in danger on Wednesday night at the ICI Center as the ERAU men's basketball team used a blisteringly efficient offense to down visiting Saint Leo, 108-91. Romeo Crouch scored 39 points, the second-most in a game in program history, while Luka Majstorovic and Chris Murray both flirted with triple-doubles, and the Eagles (17-9, 9-9 SSC) broke the single-game record with 22 made three-pointers en route to just the second win all-time over the Lions (14-11, 8-9 SSC).

ERAU, fresh off receiving its first-ever NCAA II Region Ranking (8th) all-time, shot 62 percent from the field (37-for-60) and 54 percent from three (22-for-41), breaking the previous record of 21 made triples set against Florida College on Nov. 23, 2010. The 2019-20 Eagles now have six of the program's top-10 single-game made three-pointers marks, including three of the top-five. The Blue and Gold racked up 29 assists on 37 field goals, with career-highs coming from Majstorovic (10) and Murray (7).

Crouch was once-again other-worldly, scoring his 39 points on 13-for-18 shooting from the floor, including a 9-for-14 effort from deep, to go along with six assists, three rebounds and two steals. The junior from Titusville upped his season average to 19.1 points per game and now stands in second on the single-season list with 101 made treys.

The game began with both offenses running at a high level with ERAU leading 16-11 less than four minutes in one of Crouch's nine three-pointers. The Lions got a three at the 13:51 mark to get within two at 22-20, but a Majstorovic layup off a Crouch pass put the Eagles up four and then Crouch buried a triple thanks to a Murray helper and the Eagle lead with seven.

Embry-Riddle led by two-to-three possessions for most of the opening half, stretching its lead to 15 (44-29) on a Tylin Lockett-Fuller three with seven minutes to play. Saint Leo responded with an 11-2 run, capped by a Gintaras Bartaskas three at the 4:11 mark, however, Elijah Jenkins made a corner three to stop the run and push the lead back to nine and the Eagles would hold a similar lead at the break, 57-46. 

Crouch had 22 of his 39 points in the first period, and he scored the first basket of the second on a driving layup, helping the home team to extend the advantage to 65-48 when he downed a three off a Nick Heard pass.

The Lions, who shot the ball fairly well at 48 percent (30-for-63), were answered nearly every time they scored, by the Blue and Gold. When SLU got three free throws from Kyran McClure to trim the deficit to 12 (75-63), Heard came back with a trey of his own and the hosts never allowed the visitors to get closer than 11 the rest of the night.

Crouch's jumper in the paint with 2:14 left put the Eagles over the century mark for the 10th time this season (third-most 100-point games in program history) and the final record-breaking three was hit by Murray with the shot clock winding down around the 20-second mark as the Eagles enjoyed the 108-91 victory.

Heard scored 21 points with four rebounds and two assists, while Murray had his sixth career double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds, missing a triple-double by three assists, finishing with seven. Jenkins scored 12 points on four three-pointers and Majstorovic went for 10 points, a career-high 10 assists, seven boards and five blocks.

ERAU plays their final road game of the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Eckerd. Tip is set for 4 p.m. in St. Petersburg.
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