WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Palm Beach Atlantic men's basketball team hosted Embry-Riddle at Rubin Arena on Saturday night.

The Eagles are receiving votes in the NABC top 25 and currently sit at second place in the Sunshine State Conference. PBA (6-17, 6-11 SSC) looked to avenge a loss to ERAU (19-6, 12-4 SSC) from earlier in the season where the 'Fish led by 18 before the Eagles stormed back to win. The Sailfish hung with the Eagles for the majority of today's game, but ERAU pulled away in the final five minutes of play to win, 78-67.

Jalen Cooper led the Sailfish with 17 points, converting on six of his nine attempts adding two steals and one block. Will Lee finished with 14 points, making four 3-pointers with three rebounds and three assists. Alexander Gorton had 13 points with two rebounds and one assist. Jules Jasmin tallied a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. 

Lee got the Sailfish offense going early in the game, hitting a pair of triples and scoring six of PBA's 11 points through the first 10 minutes of play. With ERAU leading 20-11, Gorton hit a jumper to kickstart a 9-0 run which included a 3-pointer from Cooper, another bucket from Gorton, and a layup from Montalvo to tie the game at 20 with seven minutes left in the first half. Two minutes later, 3-pointers by Lee and Jasmin gave PBA a 28-24 lead. Towards the end of the half, a 3-pointer from Montalvo and a layup from Rakic gave the 'Fish a 37-27 lead with a minute left in the half. The Eagles did end the half on a 6-0 run to make it 37-33 PBA at the break.

PBA's defense held ERAU to 34 percent shooting in the first half while the Sailfish shot 56 percent on the offensive end. 

The Sailfish offense slowed down in the first 10 minutes of the second half, being held to 11 points to open the period with ERAU retaking the lead at the 11-minute mark. A pair of triples and a layup gave the Eagles a 59-50 lead with eight minutes to play. Two buckets by Cooper quickly brought the deficit back down to four with seven minutes to go. PBA trailed by just five down the stretch, but PBA was lacking that last run it needed for the comeback, falling 78-67.

PBA was held to 37 percent shooting in the second half. Second chance points proved costly for the Sailfish. ERAU recorded 13 second-chance points on 10 offensive rebounds. Points off turnovers also hurt the 'Fish with the Eagles scoring 18 points off Sailfish miscues compared to just 10 points off turnovers by PBA. The Sailfish attempted just nine free throws in the game compared to 25 attempts for ERAU.

The Sailfish host Lynn in their next contest on Wednesday. The game at Rubin Arena takes place at 7:30 p.m.