RIVERSIDE, Calif. – All five of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) men's basketball starters scored at least 10 points including two 20-point outbursts by Nick Johnson (JR/Anthem, Ariz.) and Logan Skurdal (SR/Meridian, Idaho) in their 80-66 win over La Sierra on Thursday night.
ERAU (13-12, 6-5 Cal Pac) had a dream start by opening with a 12-2 run in the opening five minutes of the game that saw two buckets by both Johnson and Gilbert Ibarra (JR/Prescott Valley, Ariz.). After a small flurry by the Golden Eagles (3-19, 1-10 Cal Pac), Kaden Herbert (SO/Georgetown, Texas) would knock down a triple followed by a bucket by Skurdal to get the lead back to 10.
As time started to roll by the Eagles had a handle on the game and would keep it a multiple possession game throughout the rest of the half. Ryan Skurdal (SR/Meridian, Idaho) added to the lead late in the half by adding two deep balls which helped him to score eight in the half. It would get tight though as LSU got it to within one before Ibarra and Johnson tag teamed a couple of backsets to get up four heading into the half.
Logan Skurdal would dial it in at the beginning of the second half scoring eight of the first 10 Eagle points. ERAU would go onto get a 15-point lead after Ibarra would drop in another bucket with 15:09 left to play in the game. LSU found a way to get the ball in the hoop and chopped the lead down to four.
Riddle was extremely efficient at the line in the final half, shooting 14-14 easily their best performance at the line all season which gave them some easy opportunities to put up points. Once LSU's onslaught was over it was time for the Eagles to retaliate and they put up 22 points in the final 9:22 of the game led by Johnson and Skurdal's 15 combined points.
Johnson led all scorers with 21 points and almost grabbed his eighth double-double of the year. Skurdal is now only six points away from becoming ERAU's second 1000-point scorer has the opportunity to do it on Saturday.
ERAU will have a big test on Saturday (2/9) when they take on the Cal Pac leaders, University of Antelope Valley at 5:00 pm MST.
