STAUNTON, Va. - The Royals made the short drive down to Staunton Friday night, opening the 2026-27 season against Mary Baldwin.
The Fighting Squirrels lead for the first 13 minutes of the first half, before the Royals surged ahead and never relinquished the lead, picking up a 90-72 season-opening win.
Records: EMU 1-0, 0-0 ODAC | Mary Baldwin 0-1, 0-0 USA South
Highlights
First Half
MBU got on the board first, hitting a three to start the game, and would lead by as many as five, 12-7, at the 13:56 mark. Mary Baldwin would continue to lead, but EMU started chipping away, tying things at 15 after an 8-3 run, picking up two points apiece from
BJ Nkrumah,
Luke Chilton,
Jazen Walker and
Ben Johnson. A 4-0 run from the Fighting Squirrels pushed their lead to 19-15, but a three from
Mason Wynne was the start of an 11-0 run for the Royals, giving them a 26-19 lead with six minutes left in the half. MBU pulled back within two, but the Royals finished the half on a 12-6 tilt, with Walker adding five more and
Aaron Brooks picking up three, to lead 38-30 at the break.
Second Half
EMU started the second half on an 8-2 run, with Edixon Gomez scoring four, to push their lead to double digits, 46-32. The lead would never get below 11 for the rest of the game, as the Royals shot 50% from the field over the final 15:55, as eight different Royals picked up points, with
Isaiah Carr dropping 10,
Tiberius Fields adding nine and Walker putting eight more to his total, as EMU scored 90 in a game for the first time since November, 2024.
Statistical Leaders
Points: Walker (15), Carr and Brooks (14), T. Fields (11)
Rebounds: T. Fields (8), Walker and Brooks (7)
Assists: Brooks (6)
Blocks: Chilton (3)
What's Next
EMU returns to Yoder Arena for their home opener on Wednesday as they welcome in Southern Virginia. Tipoff against the Knights is set for 7:00 pm.
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