In front of a packed Activity Center on Thursday evening, Embry-Riddle lost to the #19 Pioneers of Antelope Valley by a final score of 76-69. 

UAV started the game with some flare on a dunk right off the bat, but the Eagles battled with the Pioneers.  Following the first basket for UAV, Christmas Togiai, Jr. (Kapolei, Hawaii) made a layup.  Togiai, Jr. then gave ERAU their first lead of the game with a three point shot.  Demari Hackett (Surprise, Ariz.) added a three and a jump shot as Embry-Riddle got out to an 11-6 lead.  The teams went back and forth with neither team getting too far out in front of the other.  With 11:56 remaining in the half, Dallan Lilly (Peoria, Ariz.) made a layup to give ERAU a 21-14 advantage.  The Pioneers scored the next seven points and tied the score at 21-21 with 7:24 left.  At the half, Antelope Valley led 34-30.

Dennis Pomazanov (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) scored his first basket of many to begin the second half.  Each time the Eagles scored, Antelope Valley would answer until a Pomazanov three point basket tied the game at 42-42 with 13:42 left in the game. The Pioneers scored the next four points, then Togiai, Jr. answered with another layup to keep the Eagles within two points.  It was a minute before either team would score.  UAV finished a layup and free throw to go up by five with the score 49-44 with 10:54 to go.  Hackett ended another Eagle scoring drought with 6:30 remaining as he made a layup to bring ERAU within five at 58-53.  UAV went up by as many as eight points, but Togiai, Jr. continued his strong night with a three to make the score 62-57 with 3:37 left in the game. Embry-Riddle played tough but fell to Antelope Valley 76-69.

Togiai, Jr. scored 19 points and had 5 steals for ERAU and Pomazanov added 17 points and 8 rebounds. 

Embry-Riddle will be back in the Activity Center on Saturday to play La Sierra with tip-off at 8:30pm.