DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - The No. 17 Embry-Riddle men's basketball team used another stifling defensive effort on Friday night in its opening game of the 2022 Bahama House Shootout, as the Eagles took care of Elizabeth City State, 78-53. Embry-Riddle (5-0) held the Vikings (2-3) to just 30% shooting from the floor, including a 3-for-21 effort from long range (14%) while Dru Nickson flirted with a triple-double, leading the Blue and Gold to its fifth straight win to open the 2022-23 season.

Nickson's 21 points were a career-high, as were his eight rebounds to go along with his seven assists and three steals. The sophomore was one of three Eagles in double-figures, joined by Chris Murray (18) and Malcolm Whitlow (14). Embry-Riddle owned the glass again, 52-36 and are now averaging 16.2 more rebounds per game than its opponents.

The game started very slowly for both offenses, and the score was just 8-4 Eagle at the 15-minute mark of the first half. Back-to-back Whitlow three-pointers helped the Eagles extend their lead and when Nickson hit a jumper in the paint the hosts led 16-6 with 13 minutes to play in the opening half.

ECSU got within four at 24-20 around the four-minute mark of the first, but the Eagles ended the period on a 15-1 run, all coming from Whitlow and Nickson, capped by the latter's layup with 27 seconds to go, and the Eagles took a 39-21 lead into the break. 

The second half was much more of the same for the home team as they held ECSU to just 29% shooting in the period, extending the lead out to as many as 25 on multiple occasions, including at the 14:45 mark when Nickson got a pass from Jon Alessandro and laid the ball up and in for a 53-28 advantage.

After the visitors countered with six straight, Jerry Bracey II made a pair of free throws to stop the mini run, and ERAU was never in danger of losing the rest of the way.

Murray grabbed five rebounds, had three helpers and three steals in addition to his 18 points, while Whitlow recorded five boards and two steals. Michael McCalister registered his third double-digit rebounding effort of the season with 10 to go along with seven points. Jared Berry and Bracey II also contributed seven points to the ERAU effort.

Embry-Riddle will conclude its Bahama House Shootout on Saturday when the Eagles take on Wingate at 5:30. The Bulldogs dropped Friday's finale to Upper Iowa, 91-84.

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The 2022-23 Embry-Riddle Men's Basketball season is presented by Daytona Kia.