ST. DAVIDS, Pa.— Eastern University Men's Basketball (4-8, 1-1) put five players in double-figures and posted a season-best 21 assists to pick up a critical 87-68 MAC Commonwealth win over the visiting Albright College Lions (4-9, 0-2). With a game-high 19 points, Olise Onyeka picked up his seventh double-double double of the year, and DaRon Sherman had 13 points and a career-best nine assists. The Eagles broke the game open with a 17-to-2 run in the second half.

Nick Mate made three 3-pointers and the Eagles were 4-for-4 from deep in the five-minute run that stretched the lead to 67-46.  Mate finished the game with 12 points and four assists. 

After the teams traded baskets early, Eastern took the lead for good on a DaRon Sherman 3-pointer six minutes into the game. Mate set up the score with a good pass. Coming into the game on a woeful shooting run from deep, the Eagles made a season-high nine 3-pointers in the  game. Sherman had two makes and Onyeka and Mate each made three.

"Early in the game," Head Coach Dan Pruessner said, "We had a couple shots that were not really great shots go in. When we made those, we were able to stay in the lead and have confidence. As the game progressed, we did a great job moving the ball and getting really good looks. The game gets easier when you can space the floor a little."

With shots from outside falling, Onyeka and Dujuan Taylor both enjoyed more freedom of movement inside. Onyeka had 14 points and nine rebounds and Taylor had nine points and seven rebounds before the break. Taylor finished the game with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting inside. All ten of his shot attempts came within a few feet of the basket. He also had eight rebounds.

The Eastern lead grew to 11 with 22 seconds left before Albright forward Phanique Dupree scored at the buzzer to close the gap to nine.

Albright made the first three baskets of the second half before Sherman got to the rim for a basket and Onyeka dropped in his third 3-pointer of the contest. The senior forward grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked four shots to help the Eagles level their record in the league.

The Eagles made 16-of-30 shots from the floor in the second and had only eight turnovers for the game. They made their first ten free throws of the contest and did not miss from the line until after the decisive run of the game.

Mason Lewis scored an efficient 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting for his second double-digit scoring game in a row. Dupree led Albright with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks, and Chase McWhite had 16 points. Albright finished just 6-for-23 from behind the arc. 

The Eagles are away for the next two games. They will travel to Widener next Wednesday and Stevenson on the 17th. Widener (4-9, 1-1) beat Messiah, 89-79, in Chester today.