Embry-Riddle staged an impressive second-half comeback but ultimately lost to Justice, 78-74, on Friday night. After being down by as much as 18 points, the Eagles came within two points in the final seconds but couldn’t pull off the win.
In the first half, Justice took control early, leading 40-30 at halftime with strong inside scoring and timely shots. Embry-Riddle struggled initially, shooting just 32.3% from the field. However, they found their rhythm after the break, improving to 37.5% and sinking 16 of 20 free throws to fuel their rally.
Top Players:
- Noah Gifft led the Eagles with 15 points, going 10-of-11 from the free-throw line, and grabbed seven rebounds.
- Jacey Canalin was a key player in the second half, scoring all 13 of his points after halftime, including two crucial three-pointers.
- Peter Dress and Christian Wells added 10 points each, with Dress also pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds.
- Lex Clontz, coming off the bench, scored 11 points and hit a significant three-pointer during the comeback.
With 12 minutes left, Embry-Riddle trailed 58-40. They turned up the pressure with aggressive defense and fast breaks. Canalin’s three-pointer with just 13 seconds remaining brought it to 76-74, but Justice secured the win at the free-throw line.
Embry-Riddle finished with 22-of-63 shooting (34.9%) and 6-of-24 from three-point range (25%). In contrast, Justice shot 47.7% overall, scoring 46 points in the paint. The Eagles held a slight advantage in rebounds (41-40) and scored 16 points off turnovers.
Next up for eraU is a game on January 8th against The Master’s University in California, continuing their journey in GSAC play.
According to recent statistics from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), teams that shoot above 45% usually have a higher win rate. For Embry-Riddle, improving their field goal percentage could be key in upcoming games. As they analyze this last match, the focus will likely be on strengthening their first-half performance and maintaining momentum through all four quarters.
The Eagles’ resilience mirrors a broader trend seen in sports today. Many teams are finding ways to come from behind, driven by quick strategic adjustments and evolving game tactics. This mirrors what fans often see in professional leagues, where close games are becoming the norm, keeping audiences glued to their screens.
