MIAMI – Eastern University Men's Basketball dropped a tough 93-87 decision to Gwynedd Mercy University in the opening game of the HoopMIA D3 Holiday Showcase.
Jordan Johnson scored a career-high 20 points in the loss.
Gwynedd Mercy (5-3) used a 15-1 run to build a 23-6 lead early. The Griffins extended that advantage to 20 points with 7:40 to play in the first half. The Eagles closed out the opening half on an 18-7 run to cut the Gwynedd Mercy lead to 45-36 at the half
Tarek Hamzeh made a pair of 3-pointers in the final moments of the first half to help the Eagles get back in the game.
In the second half, the Eagles continued to claw back, but they were never able to grab the lead. With 1:47 left, the Eagles trailed 83-80. The Eagles were within a single possession for the first time since early in the game.
Two turnovers and a missed layup sunk any chance of a comeback. Gwynedd Mercy made 10-of-12 from the free-throw line down the stretch to ice the game and secure the victory.
Austin James scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half. James shot 6-of-7 from the floor and made all four of his 3-point shots.
Malcolm Garrison added 19 points. Garrison, the lone senior on the Eastern roster, now has 996 points in his career. The Eagles made only 7-of-18 free throws in the game.
Cedric Elleby and Aaron Goodman each scored 21 points to lead the Griffins.
Eastern will take on UMass-Dartmouth tomorrow at 8 pm.
