FERRUM, Va. - The Royals men's basketball team came into Saturday's matchup with Ferrum on a four-game skid. The Panthers were riding a six game losing streak of their own...somebody was picking up a win. 

With 5:24 left in the first half, Tim Jones traditional three-point play gave EMU a one-point lead. They would never trail again en route to a 73-65 win over Ferrum. The win sends EMU to 6-10, 4-5 ODAC.

Highlights

• Ferrum jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead before Mark Burkholder tied things at two apiece. Back to back layups from Jones and Mizz Nyagwegwe extended the EMU lead before FC answered, eventually tying things at eight. The teams traded points, with Ferrum taking a three-point lead at the 11:11 mark before an Aviwe Mahlong freethrow and a Nyagwegwe basket tied things again. 
• Once again, the lead flip flopped back and forth with neither team being able to pull too far ahead. After Jones put EMU back on top, 29-28, Chris Simmons added to the lead with a freethrow, along with a layup and-one that put the Royals ahead 33-29. The Panthers were able to tie things at 33 but a Burkholder three and a Landon Swingler jumper at the buzzer gave EMU a 38-33 lead at the break. 
• After Ferrum pulled within two to start the half, a Nyagwegwe three followed by a Burkholder jumper took the lead back out to seven, 43-36. A triple from Ferrum was answered by seven straight from EMU, giving them their largest lead of the game, 50-39. The Panthers went on an 8-0 run of their own before DaiJordan Brown knocked down a jumpshot to stop the Ferrum mo. 
• A three from Ferrum at the 11:20 mark brought the lead back to four and the teams were held scoreless for the next three minutes. A Burkholder layup and a Nyagwegwe three sandwiched a Ferrum bucket and kept EMU ahead, 60-53. Every time FC scored, EMU answered with points of their own. At the 2:24 mark, Ferrum was able to pull within two, 62-64, but a Swingler three-point play, followed by four straight from Jones, was the dagger for EMU and sent them to a big ODAC road win. 
• Jones finished with a game-high 19 points, his ninth straight double-digit performance. He sits ninth in the ODAC in PPG with 15.4. Nyagwegwe added 16 on 6-13 shooting. Burkholder and Swingler added nine apiece. Mahlong finished with a game-high 10 rebounds and Swingler added eight. Jones had five assists. 

By the Numbers

• 8 - The Royals had eight different players score at least three points in the win 
• 7-8 - Nyagwegwe has at least one made three in five straight games and seven of his last eight
• +2.2 - Jones is averaging 15.4 PPG on the season, but is averaging 17.6 PPG against ODAC foes, which is fourth in the conference

Words from Coach Felix

There are no easy road games in our conference. I am proud of how we fought today. We did a great job of battling on the boards and contesting shots and we shot great from the freethrow line to finish the game! 

What's Next

EMU will be back at Yoder Arena on Wednesday when they take on Roanoke in the Coaches vs Cancer game. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 pm. 

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