Dalton Barnes returns to the Embry-Riddle men's basketball team after one of the most successful playing careers in Eagle history. The Port Orange native joins the Eagle bench for the 2017-18 season after graduating from Embry-Riddle in the spring of 2017 following a four-year Blue and Gold career (2013-17).
One of the most decorated recruits in Embry-Riddle history, Barnes made an immediate impact as a freshman, averaging 13.1 points and 4.9 rebounds en route to being named The Sun Conference Freshman of the Year, second team All-Sun Conference performer and a TSC All-Defensive Team honoree.
Barnes followed his rookie campaign with a phenomenal sophomore season, helping lead the Eagles to the NAIA II National Tournament semifinals and 35-2 overall record, the best single-season mark in program history. The first team All-Sun Conference performer and NAIA National Championship All-Tournament team honoree averaged 15.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists while leading the Blue and Gold to The Sun Conference regular season and tournament titles, his exploits in the latter resulted in TSC Tournament MVP honors for him.
As a junior, Barnes became the 29th member of the 1,000-point club at Embry-Riddle, doing so in just the second game of the season, ending the season averaging 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists as ERAUÂ began it's two-year NCAA II transition.
Barnes continued to do it all for the Eagles as a senior, finishing the 2016-17 season by averaging 15.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 7.3 assists per contest. Barnes scored the sixth-most points in a single game at Eckerd (Jan. 25) and his 7.3 assists per game set a new program record while his 191 total assists rank ninth in the single-season record book. Barnes also became just the third Eagle ever to record a triple-double when he did so against Nova Southeastern (Feb. 15) with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
All total, Barnes finished his Eagle career with 1,804 points (5th), 677 field goals (5th), 354 made free throws (7th), 511 assists (6th) and 214 steals (6th) while starting in 120 out of 121 games. Barnes is one of three Eagles in program history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists, joining DeForest Carter and Tom Fagley.
