ASTON, Pa. – A 22-to-8 run to close out the game by the hosts proved to be too much as Eastern University Men's Basketball dropped an 83-69 decision at Neumann  University. The host Knights (7-3) made 8-of-11 shots from the floor and 5-of-6 foul shots over the final eight minutes to pull away to the win.

The Eagles (5-3) led much of the first half, but careless turnovers throughout allowed the hosts to keep things close, and Neumann scored the final three points of the half to send the two teams to the locker room tied at 36. The Eagles shot 48 percent from the floor in the first and made all nine of their free throws, but they forced only four turnovers and gave the ball away 13 times. The Knights attempted 14 more shots than the Eagles in the first half.

The Eagles found success getting the ball inside in the second half, but they struggled to contain the small Neumann line-up at the other end. Things became more difficult went Arkese Claiborne picked up his third foul 65 seconds into the half.

Even so, the game stayed within a possession until the Knights pieced together an 8-to-2 run to flip a one-point Eastern lead into a five-point edge for the hosts. The Eagles answered with a 10-to-5 burst to tie the game at 61, but critical turnovers down the stretch proved to be too much to overcome.

Eastern came into the game ranked near the top of the nation in free throw attempts, blocked shots per game, and forcing turnovers. The Knights had only 12 turnovers in the game, and the Eastern shot blockers only turned away five of their shots. While the Eagles made it to the line 24 times, that number is nine below their season average, and they were only able to make 10-of-15 in the second half.

Zubair Lee made 12-of-14 free throws in the game and finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds, but he had 18 of those points in the first half. Claiborne finished with 12 points, Olise Onyeka had 11, and DaRon Sherman had 12 points. The five Eastern starters made 20-of-33 shots, but they combined for 18 turnovers and had only three blocked shots and five steals. All five Neumann starters scored in double figures. 

"We knew coming into this game that we would need to be able to take advantage of our size and get the ball inside," Head Coach Dan Pruessner said. "We typically can force teams into turnovers and bad shot decisions, but with the number of guards they play, it was going to be tough. We gave the ball away too many times and were not able to contest at the rim the way we usually do. If we shoot 49 percent in a game we should be fine, but we cannot be -14 on turnovers."

The Eagles will play at Arcadia in a MAC Crossover contest on Saturday. Eastern and Arcadia have not played in men's basketball since Arcadia left the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference after the 2006-07 season.