DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Just when it looked like No. 16 Embry-Riddle was running away with the opening game of the Daytona Mitsubishia/Kia Shootout, men's basketball rallied and put a scare into the hosts before falling, 94-89.

Embry-Riddle held a 23-point lead – its biggest of the game with just 10:22 to go. However, the Bears would not go down without a battle. With the score 73-50, the Bears would cut the lead down to 19, at 77-59, with 7:23 to play. SSU would then go on a 9-0 run over the next 2:20, cutting the lead to single digits at 77-68 with 5:03 to play.

The hosts held a 10-point lead with just under two minutes to go and Embry Riddle would let the Bears get no closer than seven points up until the final moments before SSU closed out the game with one final basket to cut the lead to five. However, in the process the Bears gained some valuable experience going toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the country.

Although the Eagles were able to stretch out their lead early in the second half, the Bears played a very competitive early part of the first half and held a three-point lead eight minutes into the game. The Eagles had two mini runs of five and eight points late in the first half to help stretch their lead out and would take an eight point lead into the locker room, 42-34.

Coming out of the break, Embry-Riddle would have two more separate runs of 6-0 and 5-0 in the opening five-plus minutes to help them stretch their lead to right around 20. They would hold a lead right around 20 up until there was 7:44 remaining in the second half before Shawnee State would make its run.

For the third straight game, Jeremy Bennington led all Bears' scorers. He poured in 22 points, playing 27 minutes off the bench. He was 6-of-15 from the field, including 5-of-12 from three and converted five of his six free throw attempts. He was one of four scorers to reach double figures. On the strength of a 4-for-6 night from behind the arc, Tyler Boyles finished with 17 points.

Tyler Morgan finished in double figures for the third straight game. He added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Ian Nixson scored 12 points and added six assists on the night. Trevor Banks and Bennington added nine and eight rebounds, respectively, helping the Bears hold a 49-32 edge in rebounding. 24 of the team's 49 rebounds came on the offensive end of the floor.

The Bears will be back in action tomorrow against an opponent that will be determined later this evening.