LANCASTER, Pa. - The Royals made a trip up north on Monday, taking on Lancaster Bible in a non-conference pre-holiday matchup. 

It was close at the half, with the Chargers ahead by just one, but LBC outscored EMU 51-38 in the second half to pick up an 83-69 win. 

Records: EMU 2-7, 0-2 ODAC | Lancaster Bible 7-2, 1-0 United East

Highlights

First Half
The Royals jumped out to an early 12-3 lead in the first five minutes of the game, using four points from Zach Bailey and two apiece from Aaron Brooks, Isaiah Carr, Jazen Walker and BJ Nkrumah, to pull ahead. Later in the frame, LBC picked up a layup that pulled them within three, but Bailey answered with a basket, and-one, to keep the Chargers at bay. With just over six minutes left in the half, and EMU leading 27-21, Lancaster Bible went on an 11-2 run, shooting 5-8 from the field over the final 4:06, to take a 32-29 advantage. Brooks picked up a layup at the 2:08 mark, and neither team added points in the final two minutes, as the Chargers took a one-point halftime lead. 

Second Half
LBC opened the second half on a 7-0 tilt, extending their lead to eight, before a Carr layup got EMU on the board. Back-to-back buckets from Carr cut LBC's lead to four, but the Chargers responded with an 11-0 run to push their lead to 15, their largest of the game. They would continue to lead by double-digits, even getting ahead by as many as 17, until an 11-2 run from EMU, highlighted by points from Walker, Bailey, Edixon Blanco and Donovan Arnason, pulled the Royals within 8. LBC would continue to lead, with EMU keeping the Chargers in striking distance, even shrinking the lead to seven with six minutes left in the game. Late in the half, after a Brooks jumper cut LBC's lead to six, the Chargers ended the game on a 16-8 run, with Brooks scoring seven of EMU's final eight points. 

Statistical Leaders
Points: Brooks (21), Carr (13)
Rebounds: Walker, Bailey and Nkrumah (6)
Assists: Walker and Blanco (4)
Blocks: Blanco (2)
Steals: Brooks (3)

What's Next
EMU will have one more game before the team heads home for winter break. They'll return home and take on William Peace on Wednesday, with tipoff slated for 2:00 pm. 

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