FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - Despite a strong start on the court, the Royals fell on the road to the Eagles of Mary Washington. With the non-conference loss, EMU falls to 3-6 overall, still maintaining a 1-1 record in conference play. 

Highlights

• Both teams were firing in the early stages of the game. Tim Jones started the scoring for the Royals, sinking one from underneath for the first basket of the game, followed by back-to-back three-pointers from Mark Burkholder and Aviwe Mahlong.
• A three-point shot from Landon Swingler capped off a 7-0 run for the Royals, pushing their lead to 17-9 early in the game. 
• Swingler ended a scoring drought from the Royals with another shot from outside the arc with about six minutes remaining to give EMU some life heading down the stretch of the first half. 
• Early in the second half, Michael Watlington made noise off of the bench for EMU. Jones dished the ball to the first-year underneath the basket and Watlington took advantage, sinking the layup. The made shot chipped into the sizable Eagles' lead. 
• At the 14 minute mark, Burkholder stole the ball from Mary Washington and drove the ball into the lane for an explosive dunk, trying the get the Royals back into positive momentum. 
• The Eagles held the advantage down the stretch, capping off their victory by its final tally of 80-57.
• Jones led the scoring for the Royals with 12 and Julien Hagerman was second off of the bench with nine, going 3-4 from outside of the arc.
• Burkholder grabbed eight boards and added seven points in the game. 

What's Next

EMU has a week to prepare for their next game, another non-conference matchup against Goucher on Saturday, Dec. 18 with a tipoff scheduled for 2:00 PM.

To keep up to date with everything surrounding the men's basketball program this year follow EMU on Twitter and Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.