BRIDGEWATER, Va. - The Royals men's basketball team made the short trek south to Bridgewater on Saturday, taking on William Peace in the opening game of the Carlyle Whitelow Invitational. 

The Royals held a lead at the half, but William Peace outscored EMU 42-31 in the second, to pick up a 68-62 win. 

Records: EMU 0-3, 0-0 ODAC | William Peace 2-2, 0-0 USA South

Highlights

First Half
EMU got on the board first with Aviwe Mahlong picking up an early layup for a 2-0 lead. The teams traded points to WP leading 8-6 before EMU responded with five straight from Mahlong and a Julien Hagerman jumper gave them a 13-8 lead. After the Pacers cut the lead to four, the Royals would push it to six on a Jalen Jones layup. But William Peace kept fighting, chipping the Royals lead to two at the 7:30 mark. A free throw and a Nick Ondrus bucket extended the lead to five but once again, Peace went on a run and tied things at 22 late in the half and even took a 24-22 lead with two minutes left. EMU answered with four points from Mahlong and five from Jameel Davis to re-take the lead, 31-24 before a Pacers layup cut their deficit to five at the break. 

Second Half
Mahlong started the second half much like the first, picking up two points to give the Royals a seven-point lead. After WP pulled within one, Michael Watlington's bucket pushed EMU's lead back to three. But Peace answered with a three for the tie before a bucket and-one from Mahlong put the Royals back on top. Later, with EMU leading by three, the Pacers went on a 9-1 run to take a five-point lead. EMU fought back and took a 45-44 lead on a Hagerman jumper with 10:44 to play, but it was short lived as WPU answered with a bucket and a lead they would not relinquish. EMU was able to get within two with less than five minutes to play, but the Pacers hit their free throws down the stretch to secure the win. 

Statistical Leaders
Points: Mahlong (25), Ty Peterson (8)
Rebounds: Peterson and Daijordan Brown (6)
Assists: Brown (5)

What's Next
EMU will wrap up the Carlyle Whitelow Invitational on Sunday when they take on Penn College. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 pm. 

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