LANCASTER,Pa.– William Blet scored 20 of his career-high 28 points in the second half, and Eastern Men's Basketball erased a late 12-point deficit on the way to an 89-80 win at Lancaster Bible. Despite heavy foul trouble late, the Eagles outscored their hosts 40-to-19 over the final 12 and a half minutes of the game. Eastern (9-2) will head home for the holiday break with an eight-game winning streak.

After going to the halftime break with a four-point edge, the Chargers (5-5) started the second half on a 20-to-11 run and led 59-46 with  14 minutes to play. While Blet scored on the next possession, the LBC lead stood at 61-49 when Draig Cooley picked up his fourth personal foul. Kaeshawn Ward already had three and picked up his fourth with more than eleven minutes to play, and Sam Gallardo picked up his fourth with ten minutes to play.

Before Ward went to the bench, the sophomore guard scored five points in a row to close the gap 61-47. 

With three starters on the bench, the Eagles looked to Blet on the offensive end. The fifth-year senior from Miami responded with all ten Eastern points over a three-minute stretch. By the time Cooley, Gallardo, and Ward returned, the LBC lead had shrunk to 72-67.

After Cooley split a pair at the line, the Chargers went up six with six minutes to play. The Eastern defense allowed only six points over the final six minutes. 

While the defense was doing work, the Eastern offense found rhythm. Gallardo hit a 3-pointer off a good pass from Blet, and Blet scored on a put-back after a Cooley steal. The Eagles grabbed a brief one-point lead before the Chargers connected on their sixth and final 3-pointer of the second half to reclaim the lead. The LBC lead stood at one when Cooley came up with a steal and a score to put the Eagles up for good.

On the next possession, Cooley stripped another ball and dunked in transition for an 80-77 lead. Cooley had all three of his steals after he picked up his fourth foul. The senior guard finished the game with 15 points on 7-of-7 shooting for the day.

On the next possession, the Eastern zone forced the Chargers into a late turnover. Blet scored his final basket of the contest to put the Eagles up 82-57. Eastern made 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch for the final margin. 

Gallardo and Ward joined Blet and Cooley in double-figures. Gallardo was 5-of-6 from the floor with three 3-pointers. He finished with 19 points. Ward had ten points and seven rebounds. With ten rebounds, Blet now has four double-doubles in the last five games. He also had three assists, two blocks, and two steals and played a game-high 38 minutes.

In the second half, the Eagles shot 58 percent from the floor and made 17-of-22 free throws. 

"After a long week full of finals and guys being sick," Head Coach Dan Pruessner said, "We couldn't  have asked for a guttier performance from our guys than we got tonight.  Their tempo was tough for us especially with guys not being able to practice the majority of the week. Halfway through the second half we found our identity and really started to dictate on the defensive end."

"They did not have an answer for Blet," Pruessner continued. "He was aggressive and under control. He made big plays when we needed them. Draig had some key steals for us down the stretch and "Mr Consistent" Sam Gallardo kept us in striking distance all game.  Even with foul trouble, these guys clawed their way back in the game and pulled it out down the stretch."

The Eagles, who have played from in front for much of their eight-game winning streak, only led for the first three and a half minutes and the final three minutes. The 9-2 start equals the best opening stretch since Eastern joined NCAA Division III. Eastern started the 2005-06 season 9-2 as well. 

After some time off for Christmas, the Eastern men will play at Lehigh University on December 29 before returning to MAC Commonwealth action at home on Jan. 5 against Alvernia.