DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - A 16-point halftime deficit and poor shooting throughout doomed the No. 22 Embry-Riddle men's basketball team on Saturday evening in the ICI Center. The Eagles (12-4, 5-2 SSC) saw their 16-game home winning streak come to an end at the hands of No. 18 Barry (10-2, 5-2 SSC), despite a season-high 33 points from Romeo Crouch.

The Eagles shot 33% from the field in the first half, including a 1-for-11 clip from beyond the arc, and although the Blue and Gold improved in the second, could never quite catch the Bucs, who finished the night shooting 52% from the floor. Whistles were heard often on Saturday night, as the two teams were called for a combined 51 fouls, while 55 free throws were attempted.

The visitors scored the first four points, and the hosts never led in the contest, and found themselves down 30-16 at the 11-minute mark of the first half. The Buccaneer advantage grew to as many as 20 (46-26, 50-30) in the opening period, but ERAU closed the period with the last four points to go into the break down 50-34.

The Blue and Gold battled in the second half, and it started with an 11-4 run, capped by a Crouch three-pointers, to trim the deficit to nine at 54-45. However, the Bucs answered and went back up 13 before Crouch took over, and his jumper at the 13:02 mark made it just a seven point game, 60-53.

Barry built the lead back to 17 around the nine-minute mark, but Embry-Riddle kept clawing, and when Crouch caught an outlet pass from Chris Murray after a missed Barry shot with 3:40 left to play, the senior raced down the floor, laid the ball up and in while being fouled, converting the free throw to make it 82-77 in favor of Barry.

The Eagles got a stop on the next visitor possession, and Jon Alessandro made one free throw to trim the Buc lead to four, but a miss on his second free throw was rebounded by the Bucs and then the visitors made both free throws to go back up six, 84-78.

The game was decided on the next Embry-Riddle trip down the floor as the Eagles had four shots to cut into the Barry lead, but missed all four, and despite grabbing three rebounds, couldn't grab a fourth and a Barry three at the other end was the dagger for the Eagle comeback hopes.

Barry put five players into double-figures offensively, while ERAU was led by Crouch's 33 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Elijah Jenkins had 16 points, while Murray finished with 14 points, and eight rebounds. 

Embry-Riddle heads on the road to take Eckerd on Wednesday, Jan. 12 in St. Petersburg with tip set for 7:30 p.m.

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