With the loss, the Blazers saw their four-game winning streak snapped and fell to 6-4 overall. Embry-Riddle, the nation’s top-ranked NAIA Division II team, won its 14th straight game to improve to 18-1 overall.
The Blazers trailed by as many as 18 in the first half, but used a 20-9 run in the first 10 minutes of the second half to take a 67-66 lead - its first since a 2-0 lead in the game’s opening minute.
From there, neither team led by more than four points over the final 10 minutes of regulation as the game went to overtime.
In the extra session, the Blazers led 91-90 with 2:20 remaining in overtime, but the Eagles responded with a 3-pointer by junior guard Ryan Exter (Winter Springs, FL) and a layup by senior forward Michael Pyle (Ormond Beach, FL) on the next possession as the Eagles took the lead for good at 95-91.
The game appeared headed for a blowout as the host Eagles shot 61-percent from the field in the first half, built an 18-point lead with 5:41 remaining and led 53-41 lead at intermission.
Pyle and junior center Nick Miller (Clearwater, FL) did the damage for Embry-Riddle in the opening half as the two netted 14 points apiece on a combined 12 for 16 shooting from the field.
The Blazers, however, pulled to within 57-47 on a 3-pointer by senior forward Lonnie Branyon III (West Haven, CT) two minutes into the second half then followed with their 20-9 run over the next 7:32.
The second half and overtime featured a total of eight ties and 11 lead changes.
Freshman forward Antoine Holder (Hartford, CT) recorded his second straight 18-point game to earn All-Tournament Team honors along with Williams.
Branyon finished with 15 points and junior point guard John Ancrum (Harlem, NY) added 12 points and a team-high five assists for the Blazers in the loss.
Pyle led all scorers with a game-high 33 points, Miller netted 26 points and Exter added 16 points to all finish in double figures for the Eagles.
Elms College returns to North Atlantic Conference (NAC) play when it hosts Mount Ida College on Wednesday, January 11. Game time is 6:00 p.m.
Newspaper Box Score Elms College vs Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) 01/07/06 4:00 p.m. at Daytona Beach, FL At Daytona Beach, FL EMBRY-RIDDLE UNIVERSITY (FLA.) 99, ELMS COLLEGE 95 ELMS COLLEGE (6-4) David Williams 10-25 5-9 28; Antoine Holder 6-14 6-10 18; Lonnie Branyon III 3-7 8-8 15; John Ancrum 3-11 5-6 12; Justin Davis 2-7 1-2 7; Renato Lindmets 3-10 0-0 6; Nathan Hawes 1-3 3-6 5; Anthony Bernard 0-2 1-2 1; Randy Hite 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 28-80 32-47 95. EMBRY-RIDDLE UNIVERSITY (FLA.) (18-1) Michael Pyle 13-20 7-9 33; Nick Miller 10-19 6-9 26; Ryan Exter 6-15 0-0 16; Tyler DeBord 2-2 2-2 6; Ben Witherspoon 3-5 0-0 6; Denny Joseph 2-4 0-0 4; Jake Pickett 1-3 1-2 4; Murat Hisarkaya 0-3 2-3 2. Totals 37-71 20-27 99. Elms College.................. 41 45 9 - 95 Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) 53 33 13 - 99 3-point goals-Elms College 7-32 (David Williams 3-10; Justin Davis 2-7; John Ancrum 1-6; Lonnie Branyon III 1-3; Anthony Bernard 0-1; Randy Hite 0-1; Antoine Holder 0-4), Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) 5-20 (Ryan Exter 4-11; Jake Pickett 1-3; Ben Witherspoon 0-2; Denny Joseph 0-1; Murat Hisarkaya 0-3). Fouled out--Elms College-Lonnie Branyon III; Renato Lindmets, Embry-Riddle University (Fla.)-None. Rebounds-Elms College 51 (Antoine Holder 9; David Williams 9), Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) 46 (Nick Miller 12). Assists-Elms College 13 (John Ancrum 5), Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) 26 (Jake Pickett 10). Total fouls-Elms College 23, Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) 28. A-303 Carrabba's Shootout MVP: Nick Miller, ERAU All-Tournament: Michael Pyle, ERAU Antoine Holder, Elms David Williams, Elms Brian Hagel, Wisconsin Lutheran Justin Van Dyke, Indiana-South Bend