DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - The Embry-Riddle men's basketball team got a much-needed victory on Wednesday evening in the ICI Center, snapping a two-game skid with a 91-77 win over Lynn in a game that wasn't as close as the final score indicated. The Eagles (7-2, 2-2 SSC) showed their depth with several players dealing with minor ailments, getting big contributions from Jon Alessandro and Wesley Simpson, while Malcolm Whitlow did what he has done all year in leading the Blue and Gold to the 14-point win over the Fighting Knights (1-6, 0-4 SSC).

The first half, particularly the first 10 minutes, was absolutely controlled by the hosts, and they took a 49-34 lead into the break before putting the game away midway through the second half.

Jerry Bracey II, getting the first start of his collegiate career, scored the game's first bucket, and then Alessandro took over for the Eagles, scoring the next six points, capped by a steal and dunk in traffic to make it 8-2 just two minutes into the contest.

The lead grew to 18-6 on a Simpson three-pointer with 13 minutes to play in the first, and the Eagles used that as a catalyst to hold the visitors at extended arm's length for the rest of the first period. 

ERAU's advantage ballooned to as many as 20 when Chris Murray dunked one home off one of Whitlow's six assists of the evening, and Whitlow wrapped up the scoring in the first with a jumper in the paint to make it 49-34 ERAU after 20 minutes of action.

The Fighting Knights scored the first six points of the second half to try and start a comeback, but Whitlow stopped the run with a layup and then Alessandro picked up another steal before hitting a trey to push the lead back to 14.

Lynn never got closer than 13 the rest of the night with the cushion getting all the way up to 24 when Dru Nickson hit a jumper at the 6:04 mark to make it 84-61. The visitors did end the contest on a 9-0 run to make a 23-point Eagle lead shrink to 14 at the final horn, but the result was never in doubt.

Whitlow had six assists, four boards and two steals to go along with his game-high 20 points, while Alessandro collected four steals and four rebounds in addition to his season-high 18 points. Simpson went for five rebounds with his 11 points, and 10 of the 11 Eagles to play scored. 

ERAU shot a season-best 54% from the floor, while total ling 13 steals as a team.

The Eagles take the next nine days off for final exams before hosting the 2022 Embry-Riddle Holiday Classic Dec. 16-17 in the ICI Center.

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