Eagles Drop Game to Red Hawks

Embry-Riddle fell on Thursday evening to the Red Hawks of Simpson in their first Cal Pac game of the season.  

Embry-Riddle went down 5-0 to start the first half, however Christmas Togiai, Jr. (Kapolei, Hawaii) made two layups and Jake Klingler (Gilbert, Ariz.) added a three point basket to put ERAU up 9-7 with 14:53 to go in the half.  The Red Hawks were within one point at 11-10 before Togiai, Jr. scored the next 5 to give the Eagles a 15-10 lead.  Demari Hackett (Surprise, Ariz.) gave Embry-Riddle a six point advantage as he made a layup with 11:26 left in the first half.  The Red Hawks retook the lead at 21-20 on a made a three point basket with 6:41 before the halftime break.  Right after Simpson took the lead, the Eagles took it back as Klingler was fouled shooting a three and made all three of his free throws as ERAU had a 23-21 advantage.  A Simpson steal and layup tied the game again with 5:06 to go in the half.  At the end of the first half, Embry-Riddle and Simpson were tied at 32-32. 

Togiai, Jr. led the Eagles in the first half with 11 points.  Dennis Pomazanov (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) had five rebounds to lead ERAU and had two assists. 

To begin the second half, the Red Hawks made a layup, but Togiai Jr. continued to add to his point total with two three point baskets that gave ERAU a 38-34 lead.  The Eagles went on a little scoring drought but Pomazanov ended that with a layup as Embry-Riddle was up 40-36.  With 14:40 to go in the game, the score was tied 42-42.  Simpson used a scoring run to take the lead back as they led 50-47 with 11:34 left in the second half.  The game went back and forth with both teams struggling to score until there was 7:17 left in the game and Pomazanov brought ERAU within a point at 53-54.  Embry-Riddle benefitted from a turnover by a Red Hawk and turned it into points on the other end to reclaim the lead on a David Teibo (Phoenix, Ariz.) layup.  The Eagles struggled to make a basket down the stretch as they fell 65-62.

Togiai, Jr. finished with a game high 21 points and Pomazanov finished with 9 rebounds to lead ERAU.

Embry-Riddle will finish up their Northern California trip in Merced against UC Merced on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30pm PST.