DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - A 10-point lead at the midway point of the second half didn't hold up for the 13th-ranked Embry-Riddle men's basketball team on Wednesday night as the Eagles suffered their first loss of the season, 76-75 to Saint Leo in the ICI Center. For the third straight season the Eagles (6-1, 1-1 SSC) entered their seventh game of the year at 6-0, and for the third straight season, the Eagles couldn't get to 7-0, dropping the one-point decision to Saint Leo (4-3, 1-1 SSC).
The Eagles led 63-53 after a
Jerry Bracey II jumper in the paint at the 9:58 mark of the second half, but the Eagles went cold after that, making just one of their next 13 field goal attempts as the Lions went on an 11-0 run to take a 68-67 lead with four minutes left to play.
Trailing 71-68 under two minutes,
Jack Dillard connected on his third triple of the game to knot things up at 71-71, but Grant Disken hit the shot of the night up to that point, a step back three in the corner with the shot clock winding down to give Saint Leo a three-point edge with one minute remaining.
A missed Eagle three was rebounded by the Lions, but
Michael McCalister came up with a block on the ensuing Lion possession and the Eagles got two free throws from
Malcolm Whitlow at the 16 second mark to get within one at 74-73.
Out of a timeout ERAU pressed Saint Leo and Bracey II stole the ball, finding Whitlow under the hoop for an easy layup and a 75-74 lead with under 10 seconds to play. However, it was Disken once again coming through for the visitors, taking the ball the length of the floor and hitting a tough runner as he was falling out of bounds to regain the lead with just 3.6 seconds left.
Dru Nickson go the in-bounds pass and raced the ball up the court, getting a decent look at a three that was just off the mark as Saint Leo held on for the 76-75 win.
The first half was sluggish for both squads as fouls marred play. Trailing 29-25, the hosts ended the half on a 13-6 run to take a 38-35 lead into the break.
McCalister hit a three-pointer right out of the gate in the second half and the Eagles slowly built their lead over the first 10 minutes of the period until going ice cold from the floor.
McCalister had one of the best games of his career, finishing with a career-high 21 points with eight rebounds, but the Eagle sophomore did not attempt a field goal after his career-best sixth three-pointer at the 11:18 mark gave the Blue and Gold an eight point lead.
Whitlow had 24 points and five assists for ERAU, while Dillard finished with nine points.
The Eagles hit the road on Saturday, Dec. 3 for a 4 p.m. tilt against the Spartans.
The 2022-23 Embry-Riddle Men's Basketball season is presented by Daytona Kia.
