DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- The Embry-Riddle men's basketball team collected a thrilling overtime win against conference foe Tampa on Saturday at the ICI Center, running away with  a hard-fought 96-89 victory. The Eagles (11-4, 5-2 SSC) needed a bounceback win after two straight losses to open the 2025 calendar year, showcased resilience and depth, with key performances from both starters and bench players. Despite Tampa's (10-5, 2-5 SSC) strong offensive pressure, the Eagles overcame deficits with clutch shooting and defensive stops.

First Half Summary

• Embry-Riddle faced early struggles with turnovers but kept the game competitive, finishing the half down 40-34.
• Dru Nickson and Jerry Bracey II led the charge with defensive tenacity, combining for three steals in the period.
• Clarens Pierre made a significant impact, recording a block and securing key rebounds to keep the game within reach.
• Jared Berry scored 9 of his 22 points in the first half, showing efficiency inside and outside the arc.

Second Half Summary

• The Eagles surged offensively, outscoring Tampa 48-42 in the second half.

• Tyson Leitao was pivotal, notching 12 of his 22 points and dominating the glass with eight defensive rebounds.
• Michael McCalister recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while contributing two blocks to halt Tampa's momentum.
• Bench contributions were significant, with Logan Lewis adding three points and Milan Skoric hitting two three-pointers to energize the team.

• Embry-Riddle showed composure in the extra period, outscoring Tampa 14-7.
• Dru Nickson nailed a clutch three-pointer and converted critical free throws to seal the victory.
• Defensively, Clarens Pierre and Jack Klinger stood tall, combining for three blocks and limiting Tampa to just two made field goals.

• Embry-Riddle shot 44.9% from the field, including 30.0% from three-point range, while holding Tampa to 41.7% shooting.
• The Eagles outperformed Tampa in second-chance points (18-10) and bench contributions (35-22).
• Jared Berry and Tyson Leitao tied as the game's top scorers with 22 points each, while Jerry Bracey II's six assists led the team in playmaking.
• Clarens Pierre's defensive presence was unmatched, tallying six blocks and seven rebounds in 36 minutes.