The Eagles, 14-5 and ranked No. 16 in NAIA Division II, held just a 34-29 halftime lead over Shenandoah (8-4), but got a combined 38 second half points from Denny Joseph and Michael Pyle to secure the victory.
Embry-Riddle shot a sizzling 21 for 31 (67.7 percent) following the break, including 7 of 11 from three-point range. The Eagles used this hot shooting to break open an eight-point game at the 13:24 mark with 13-0 run over the next 3:36 to lead 66-48.
Senior Kenny Purnell (Baltimore, Md./Lake Clifton) help the Hornets get back into it with 19 of his season high 27 following the break, but Shenandoah could get no closer than 70-61 with 5:40 remaining.
In addition to Purnell's 27, Chris Rhone (Washington, D.C./Northwestern) added 18 and Jeremiah Lawrence (Forestville, Md./Forestville) 12. Sophomore Onyie Onunaku (Bristow, Va./Stonewall Jackson) had a game high 11 rebounds to go along with three blocks.
Pyle led all scorers with 31 and Joseph had 17.
Box Score/Play by Play
SU concludes play at the tournament with a 2:00 Saturday game against No. 2 in the nation College of Wooster (Ohio).
Newspaper Box Score Shenandoah (Va.) vs Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 01-07-05 8 p.m. at Daytona Beach, Fla. (ICI Center) At Daytona Beach, Fla. (ICI Center) EMBRY-RIDDLE (FLA.) 93, SHENANDOAH (VA.) 74 SHENANDOAH (VA.) (8-4 NCAA DIII) PURNELL, Kenneth 10-22 2-2 27; RHONE, Chris 6-19 2-5 18; LAWRENCE, Jeremiah 5-6 2-3 12; ONUNAKU, Onyie 3-6 0-0 6; JENKINS, Chris 0-7 5-7 5; HALE, Jared 2-6 0-0 4; JOHNS, Steven 0-0 2-3 2; SHERMAN, Derrick 0-0 0-0 0; LYON, Christopher 0-0 0-0 0; SULLIVAN, Mike 0-0 0-0 0; MILLER, Patrick 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-66 13-20 74. EMBRY-RIDDLE (FLA.) (14-5 #16 NAIADII) Michael Pyle 12-17 3-4 31; Denny Joseph 7-10 2-2 17; Nick Miller 5-5 1-1 11; Ryan Exter 4-9 1-1 11; Jake Pickett 2-7 2-2 8; Ben Witherspoon 2-6 3-4 8; Drew Whitaker 1-4 3-3 5; Fabrice Kunakey 1-1 0-0 2; Jared Bender 0-0 0-0 0; Scott Bradley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-59 15-17 93. Shenandoah (Va.).............. 29 45 - 74 Embry-Riddle (Fla.)........... 34 59 - 93 3-point goals-Shenandoah (Va.) 9-28 (PURNELL, Kenneth 5-15; RHONE, Chris 4-7; JENKINS, Chris 0-3; HALE, Jared 0-3), Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 10-22 (Michael Pyle 4-5; Ryan Exter 2-6; Jake Pickett 2-6; Ben Witherspoon 1-2; Denny Joseph 1-2; Drew Whitaker 0-1). Fouled out--Shenandoah (Va.)-RHONE, Chris, Embry-Riddle (Fla.)-Denny Joseph. Rebounds-Shenandoah (Va.) 34 (ONUNAKU, Onyie 11), Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 33 (Michael Pyle 8). Assists-Shenandoah (Va.) 12 (PURNELL, Kenneth 4), Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 25 (Jake Pickett 8). Total fouls-Shenandoah (Va.) 20, Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 18. A-623