SILVER CITY, N.M. In an exhibition game at Western New Mexico University for the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) men's basketball team, the Eagles could not come up with enough offense to keep pace with the Mustangs as they fell by a final of 78-58.

Sophomore Nick Johnson (Anthem, Ariz.) led ERAU with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Western New Mexico had seven points on the board before Embry-Riddle scored its first points of the game on a basket by Johnson. The Mustangs ran it out to a 12-2 advantage on a three-pointer by CJ Vanbeekum just five minutes in before junior Ryan Skurdal (Meridian, Idaho) hit a three to make it a seven-point contest. The Eagles could not mount a charge, however, and it proved to be as close as they would get the rest of the half as WNM went on to take a 38-25 lead at the after the first 20 minutes.

Embry-Riddle started the second half with an 8-0 run, pulling to 41-36 after a three from Skurdal. The Eagles were still within eight at 46-38 with 14:43 to play after a bucket by sophomore Gilbert Ibarra (Prescott Valley, Ariz.). It was the last scoring for ERAU for the next five minutes, however, and Western New Mexico took advantage with 14 straight points to pull away.

From there the Eagles could not get closer than 20 points the rest of the way as the Mustangs coasted home with the win.