MELBOURNE, Fla. – Florida Tech (12-15, 7-12 SSC) was dealt a heartbreaking defeat to Sunshine State Conference foe Embry-Riddle (11-16, 5-14 SSC) on Wednesday at the Clemente Center. The visiting Eagles knocked down a three in the final seconds of regulation and then overpowered the Panthers in overtime, 86-79.
 
Jordan Majors notched his first double-double of the season with 32 points and 10 rebounds. It was the redshirt-senior's third straight game with 32 points. Sam Daniel recorded 17 points and seven rebounds and Patrick Anderson netted 12 points. Richard Coil finished with 10 rebounds. 
 
Florida Tech made 29-for-70 from the field (.414) and 13-for-16 (.813). The Eagles hit 28-for-71 (.394) in the game and 19-for-21 (.905) at the charity stripe, including all six of their free throw attempts in overtime. 
 
Both FIT and Embry-Riddle finished with 42 rebounds and 15 turnovers. The Panthers won the battle in the paint, 38-26.
 
The Crimson and Gray got off to a strong start leading 8-2 just 2:12 into the contest after a three by Majors.
 
Another trey by Majors increased the Panthers lead to nine, 18-9, with 11:25 left in the first half. Later in the period, a three by Anderson gave FIT its largest lead of the game at 12 points, 30-18, with 5:50 to go. 
 
The Eagles then ensued on a 21-8 run and soared to their first lead of the game, 39-38, with five seconds left. 
 
Darius Wright's solo effort gave the Panthers the advantage at halftime as he collected his own rebound off a missed jumper in the waning seconds and then knocked down a mid-range jumper at the buzzer to put FIT ahead, 40-39.
 
The team this change baskets over the first five minutes of the second half but a 10-2 spurt gave the Eagles a 61-54 for lead at the 7:33 mark.
 
Florida Tech regained the lead, 66-64, after four straight points by Anderson with 2:45 left. A pair of free throws from Antonis Pefanis put the Panthers ahead by three, 73-70, with 19 seconds remaining.
 
However, ERAU's Elijah Jenkins netted a three with one second to go to force overtime.
 
Majors hit an inside jumper gave FIT a 79-77 edge with 2:12 to go in overtime. Those would be the last points of the game for the Panthers as ERAU took an 82-79 lead with 26 seconds remaining and then sealed the game at the charity stripe to win by a seven-point margin.
 
Florida Tech will need a win in its regular season finale in order to keep its postseason hopes alive. The Panthers host Nova Southeastern on Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 4 p.m. at the Clemente Center. Fans can access live coverage of the action at FloridaTechSports.com/live.