TAMPA, Fla. – Despite having a solid first half of offensive production, the Embry-Riddle men's basketball team fell 104-93 after a late surge from Tampa inside the Bob Martinez Athletics Center in Tampa on Saturday evening.
The Eagles shot nearly 62% from the field in the opening period of play, grasping a three-point lead at the break. Unfortunately, Tampa countered with a 50-point second half to hand ERAU its second-straight loss.
RECORDS
Embry-Riddle: 10-11 (7-7 SSC)
Tampa: 11-10 (5-9 SSC)
GAME NOTES
- Embry-Riddle is 11–13 all-time against Tampa and is currently on a four-game skid, the longest losing streak in the history of the series.
KEY PERFORMERS
Embry-Riddle
Tampa
- Justin Taylor – 22 pts, 3 ast
- Ryan Blount – 20 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- Jared Berry was blazing hot in the opening minutes, with a pair of three-pointers and a layup for a 12-6 advantage for ERAU.
- Tampa outscored Embry-Riddle in the following 13-7 stretch of scoring, leveling the game at 19-19 with 14 minutes until halftime.
- With several lead changes and back-and-forth play consuming most of the half, Embry-Riddle would best Tampa in a 27-17 stretch to extend the lead to 10 points with less than seven to play.
- The Spartans fought back and remained close before ultimately taking a two-point lead late.
- A trey from Berry and a layup from Relja Vranesevic ended the period with a 57-54 lead in favor of the Eagles.
- ERAU shot for 61.8% from the field and knocked down seven threes at a 58.3% clip.
- Berry highlighted the half with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 mark from beyond-the-arc.
- Torres followed with a 3-of-3 shooting performance for eight points with Clarens Pierre totaling eight points while going 4-of-4 from the field.
Second Half
- Embry-Riddle struggled to find enough momentum to build a lead larger than five points in the half.
- Despite ERAU pulling to a 65-60 lead at the 16:42 mark, Tampa gained momentum with a 10-4 run to lead 70-69 at the 12:53 mark.
- A trey from Berry quickly flipped the score in favor of the Eagles, yet the Spartans returned with an answer to level the game.
- Embry-Riddle managed to level the score once more moments later, but Tampa continued to respond.
- The Spartans remained in control of the score for the final 10 minutes of play, outpacing the Eagles 30-19 for the rest of the half to capture a 104-93 victory.
- UT bested ERAU 50-36 in the half, outshooting the Eagles with 58.8% from the field while the visitors shot for 41.4%.
INSIDE THE STATS
- Embry-Riddle finished the game shooting 52.4% (33-of-63) from the field, 48.1% (13-of-27) from three, and 77.8% (14-of-18) from the foul line.
- Berry led with 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, adding five boards and three assists.
- Pierre finished with 12 points while Torres scored 10.
- Tampa outscored Embry-Riddle 48-38 in the paint and outscored the Eagles 23-7 off turnovers.
UP NEXT
The Eagles return home to the ICI Center on Wednesday night, hosting Rollins for "Wii are ERAU Night" at 7:30 p.m. ET.
