DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Despite shooting over 50 percent with an offense that featured four double-digit scorers, the Edgewood College men's basketball team was held without a field goal for the final four-and-a-half minutes in a 75-71 loss to Clark University (Mass.) in the Land of Magic Classic on Wednesday night.
Sophomore Tyler Lemke scored 22 points in 26 minutes on 8-of-12 shooting and sophomore Kyle Geiger added 12 points off the bench in his second career game as the Eagles (2-8) knocked down 11 three-pointers and shot 23 of 45 from the field (51.1 percent), their second-highest percentage this season.
It all fell apart down the stretch as Arik Anderson's jumper with 4:30 left was the Eagles' final made field goal of the game. Anderson's shot gave the Eagles the 69-61 lead, but the Cougars (8-2) utilized the double bonus and free throws to slowly chip away. Led by five straight makes by Joe Atkinson, the Cougars scored 10 of their last 14 points at the line, and preserved a 74-71 lead by forcing an Eagle turnover with one second to play.
Atkinson also led four players in double figures and posted a team-high 19 points, including 12 of 14 at the free throw line, as the Cougars finished 26 of 32 (81.3 percent) as a team. The Eagles dropped their fourth straight and the Cougars won their fifth game in a row in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
The Eagles enjoy the Florida weather before facing Ursinus College (Pa.) on Friday, December 30 at 11:00 a.m. (CST) at the Ocean Center in the final game of the Land of Magic Classic.