MELBOURNE, Fla. – A three-point melee from Embry-Riddle was too much to handle for Florida Tech on Wednesday night and the Eagles routed the Panthers, 102-68, in SSC action at the Clemente Center.

Embry-Riddle made 18-of-28 (.643) from three-point range in the win. It's the most made threes allowed by the Panthers in any game this season

The Crimson & Gray have now lost four games in a row and drop to 1-7 in conference play. ERAU moves to 2-7 against SSC competition this season.

Derek Murphy guided Florida Tech with 28 points on 10-of-19 shooting with five rebounds. RJ Coil added 13 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Valur Valsson recorded 10 points, two assists, and two steals.

An early barrage of threes helped Embry-Riddle jump out to a quick double-digit lead. The Eagles opened the contest making 6-of-10 from long range and led 22-10 with 9:58 to go before halftime. The Panthers were 0-of-7 from beyond the arc at that point of the game.

Murphy knocked down Tech's three-pointer of the game and made it a nine-point game, 22-13, with 9:36 remaining. However, a 10-2 run by the Eagles moments later gave them their largest lead of the first half at 17 points, 32-15, with 6:43 left.

The Eagles' advantage remained in double-figures the rest of the first half and ERAU went into halftime leading, 45-31.

The 3-ball continued to drop for Embry-Riddle as the Eagles made 10-of-12 from beyond in the second half. On the other side, the Panthers were still struggling to get into a rhythm offensively and, as a result, the visiting team cruised through the second half.  

The margin between the teams reached as much as 35 points before the Eagles eventually handed the Panthers their largest loss so far this season.

Tech finished the game shooting 24-of-57 (.421) from the field and 4-of-26 (.154) from beyond the arc. In addition to hitting 64 percent (18-of-28) from three-point range in the contest, ERAU also made 65 percent (37-of-57) of its total shots in the game.

The Panthers struggled from the charity stripe, making 16-of-29 on their free attempts. Embry-Riddle went 10-of-11 on its free throws in the game.

ERAU divvied out assists on 22 of its 37 made field goals against the Panthers. Tech had just eight assists in the contest.

The Eagles also concluded the matchup with an edge in rebounding, 35-22, bench points, 29-19, and points off turnovers, 17-15. Florida Tech ended with more second-chance points, 11-2, and fast break points, 14-7. Both teams scored 34 points in the paint.

Florida Tech will look to get back on track Saturday, Jan. 19, when the Panthers welcome the Palm Beach Atlantic Sailfish to Melbourne for an SSC showdown. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the Clemente Center.

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