CHANDLER, Ariz. – In their first game of the Cactus Classic, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) men's basketball (6-6, 1-0 Cal Pac) were outshot and outgunned even with Nick Johnson (JR/Anthem, Ariz.)'s 18 points Montana State – Northern (8-5) held down the Eagles and won 62-57.

Johnson would get the Eagles going early as he had seven of the first nine points that the team scored. Riddle was very active with their hands snatching eight steals in the half too. ERAU had a three-point lead with 11 minutes left but that would be the last time that the Eagles would have it. MSUN would start to light it up from deep making six threes in 11 minutes to get an eight-point lead going into the half.

It was not the offense's night as they struggled to get the ball into the basket and that trend continued throughout the second half. Riddle shot 9-27 from the field in the last half and only shot 5-11 from the line to add to their frustration. The Lights kept their three-point barrage going in the second by making seven of their first nine shots from beyond the arc. This opened up a 19-point lead that was too much to overcome for the Eagles.

Johnson led the Eagles with 18 points and was the only Eagle to get into double digits. Johnson was 8-13 FG with four steals and seven rebounds. Ryan Skurdal (SR/Meridian, Idaho) was a pick pocket as well, grabbing three steals and seven points.

It will be another tough matchup for the Eagles as they continue their play in the Cactus Classic against the University of Providence Tuesday (12/17) at 4:00 pm MST.