DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - The 23rd-ranked Embry-Riddle men's basketball team saw its six-game winning streak against Rollins come to an end on Wednesday night in the ICI Center as the Tars shot a blistering 65% in the second half to hand the Eagles their third Sunshine State Conference loss. The Eagles (15-5, 8-3 SSC) battled the visiting Tars (11-9, 6-6 SSC) all night, trimming an 11-point second half deficit down to one possession, but the Tars made the shots down the stretch, especially at the free throw line, finishing 22-for-25, to earn their first win against ERAU since 2017.

Romeo Crouch scored a team-high 21 points, pulled down eight rebounds, and dished out five of the team's 20 assists on the night, but it wasn't enough as the Tars got nearly all 89 points for their starters, including a big game from Brooks Cluxton, who finished with 25 points, 11 boards, and six assists. Rollins racked up 24 assists on 31 made field goals, and ended the contest making nine of its' last 11 shots from the floor.

The visitors jumped out to a 6-0 lead, and led throughout much of the opening period, pushing it out to as many eight, but the Eagles briefly went ahead late when Elijah Jenkins made a three-pointer at the 6:42 mark to give the Eagles a 26-23 lead. The Tars then went on a 16-9 run to end the half to take a 39-35 cushion into the break.

Jenkins opened the second with a triple, but the Tars were the ones that shot it better for the first 10 minutes, growing the lead to 11, 64-53 on an and-one from Hutton Yenor. The Blue and Gold began a run, starting with a Danny Sully layup, and ending with the same, cutting the lead to 64-62 with nine minutes to play. However, a three-pointer from Rollins stopped the bleeding and stabilized the Tars offense as once again they went back up by several possessions.

Trailing 83-74 with 2:58 to go, the Eagles made it interesting. Malcolm Whitlow made a layup, followed by a Crouch put back to bring ERAU within 83-78 with just over two minutes to play. The Eagles got a stop and then Crouch was fouled, going 1-for-2 at the charity, and ERAU had hope when the Tars missed a trey on their next possession, but an offensive rebound from Yenor and then a subsequent foul by the Eagles put him on the line where he made both. The Tars finished the game at the free throw line, going a perfect 6-for-6.

Crouch was joined in double-figures by Whitlow with 14, Jenkins with 12, Sully with 11, and Michael McCalister with 10. ERAU shot 44% for the game, while the Tars shot 59% from the field.

The Eagles will stay at home to host Saint Leo on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m.

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The 2021-22 Embry-Riddle Men's Basketball season is presented by Daytona Kia.