| Issue 12 | Volume 144 | Tuesday, November 24, 2015 | theavion.com |
ERAU Students to Train at Mars Research Station Ashley Hollis-Bussy Team Astronomer The Society for Human Performance in Extreme Environments (HPEE) was created for the purpose of bringing people who are involved in extreme human performance activities together to share their ideas and experiences. The goal of HPEE is to express lessons learned from extreme environments so that we can learn how to adapt to similar situations. HPEE simply defines extreme environments as: “settings that possess extraordinary physical, psychological, and interpersonal demands that require significant human adaptation for survival and performance.” Examples include spaceflight, aviation, and life in polar regions, mountains, underwater, deserts and more. The ERAU student chapter is centered on extreme recreational environments. These activities can take place in the air, water, and on land with activities such as skydiving, ATX training, bungee jumping, scuba diving, water skiing, surfing, rowing, mountain climbing, skiing/snowboarding, marathon running, cycling, motor sports, etc. The Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) is a research program that is owned and operated by the Mars Society. HPEE has been working with Mars Society to send undergraduate students to the station to conduct their research that will enhance our understanding of the future habitation of Mars. MDRS is essentially an analog space facility located in Hanksville, Utah, which supports Earth since it is interrelated with Mars. MDRS hosts field seasons that are two weeks long for professional scientists and engineers, as well as college students of all levels, in training for human operations specifically on Mars. The relative isolation of the facility allows for rigorous field studies for research in a two-week simulation that functions as if the crew members are conducting a real expedition on Mars. Continued on A4 >>
Jack Taylor/The Avion Newspaper The Henderson Welcome Center is home to the University Administration and the newly revitalized Chancellor’s Office. The Dean of Students Office is conveniently located on the Second Floor of the Student Center.
Constancy of Change
Offering Perspective in a Period of Transition and Development... Deborah Bandy Dir. of Strategic Initiatives To say that change is constant is both a contradiction and undeniably true. From the moment sperm meets egg, life is constantly changing. The newborn discovers with every waking that they can do something new. Within a year, the baby is walking, reasoning, responding to emotional stimuli, and achieving what was impossible just moments before. Change is our first lesson. Yet we come to loathe change. We come to loathe it because we find comfort in the familiar. And we loathe it because often we don’t understand it. “It was fine… It was good the way it was. There is no reason for change.” Maybe it was good the way it was. Maybe it was fine the way it was. But change more often yields improvement. That’s how we learn that we can make things better. Recently, the number of minutes that you spend in a Monday/Wednesday/Friday class was changed. Many said, “This is stupid. Why change it? I don’t like it. This is dumb.” The backstory is that this was discussed, debated, analyzed, and systematically researched for years before being implemented.
Businesses, governments, institutions and families are constantly changing. When a new administration moves into the White House, we expect change. When a new administration moves into Henderson, we have to anticipate change. Change is never for its own sake. Change is hard. So why change? At Embry-Riddle, the first and ultimate question that drives change should always the same: Is this in the best interest of the University — in the best interest of the students? Even when change may not look that way, you can be sure it was debated, analyzed, and systematically researched. When I was seven years old, my parents announced to me that we were moving – moving away from the big, loving, extended family that had been a constant in my life. We were moving to another continent. I wouldn’t see my cousins or my grandparents, my aunts or uncles, for two years. Of course, my first questions were, “Why? Don’t I have a say? My family? My friends? My school?” How could this change be decided when I wasn’t consulted? My parents didn’t have to consult me. They knew I would resist. I wouldn’t have
changed what was the comfort and love in my life. So, the grown-ups decided what was best for our family. They debated, analyzed, and systematically researched the possibilities. I’m so grateful my parents didn’t give me the power to decide. I would never have had a life filled with the most amazing, educational, and stimulating experiences had that dramatic change not come. Every move after the first was at the same time lamented and embraced. I had learned that change was painful but ultimately awesome. We recently observed the 50th anniversary of Embry-Riddle having moved to Daytona Beach from the Miami area. We looked at what it was then and what it has become, and the changes are impressively grand. The changes are even more dramatic when we compare what T. Higbee Embry and John Paul Riddle envisioned 90 years ago to what Embry-Riddle is today. You want to see change? Stand out the quad and ponder what flight has become as you see the Wright Brothers’ Flyer in contrast to a commercial airliner ascending over the COAS. We are in a period of change at Riddle. We have
a new administration. The changes have affected us all. And while we don’t know the backstories (we’re not privy to the analysis, the data, the debate, and the research) we should be confident that it is for the good of the institution and for the good of the students. Were it not, it would not be. That is the motivating force for all who labor at this amazing university. Ask the why and how questions, but accept that you can’t have all the answers. Ask your student government to represent you. Demand that this award-winning publication pursues the important, meaningful stories so that you can better understand the changes. What you shouldn’t do is rush to judgment, blindly believing that change was made erroneously or without the diligence the status quo was due. Everyone here wants Embry-Riddle to be better tomorrow than it is today; all want you to be more than when you arrived — more educated, more mature, more compassionate and have the capacity to make more of a contribution to the future of our world. This is why we are all here. We are here to change.
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Executive Board Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Business Manager Photography Editor Advertising Manager
Andy Lichtenstein Micah Knight Cassandra Vella Michael Nisip Jack Taylor Shemar Alexander
Page Editors Front Editor Campus Editor I&T Editor Feature Editor Sports Editor
Comics Editor Copy Editor
Andy Lichtenstein Billy Nguyen Keenan Thungtrakul Cassandra Vella Billy Nguyen Zach Fedewa Andrew Bronshteyn Delilah Campos Michael Nisip Jaclyn Wiley Malana Linton
Staff Contributors Reporters Photographers
Cassandra Vella Keenan Thungtrakul Prakash Bhanderi Zach Fedewa Jack Taylor
Staff Advisor Wesley Lewis, Asst. Director, Media & Marketing
Contact Information Main Phone: (386) 226-6049 Ad Manager: (386) 226-7697 Fax Number: (386) 226-6016 Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor News Editor Business Manager Photography Editor Advertising Manager
editor@theavion.com managing@theavion.com news@theavion.com business@theavion.com photo@theavion.com advertising@theavion.com
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The Avion is produced weekly during the fall and spring term, and bi-weekly during summer terms. The Avion is produced by a volunteer student staff. Student editors make all content, business and editorial decisions. The editorial opinions expressed in The Avion are solely the opinion of the undersigned writer(s), and not those of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the Student Government Association, The Avion, or the student body. Letters appearing in The Avion are those of the writer, identified at the end of the letter. Opinions expressed in the “Student Government” and “Student Life” sections are those of the identified writer. Letters may be submitted to The Avion for publication, provided they are not lewd, obscene or libelous. Letter writers must confine themselves to less than 800 words. Letters may be edited for brevity and formatted to newspaper guidelines. All letters must be signed. Names may be withheld at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. The Avion is an open forum for student expression. The Avion is a division of the Student Government Association. The Avion is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press. The costs of this publication are paid by the Student Government Association and through advertising fees. The Avion distributes one free copy per person. Additional copies are $0.75. Theft of newspapers is a crime, and is subject to prosecution and Embry-Riddle judicial action. This newspaper and its contents are protected by United States copyright law. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, in print or electronically, without the expressed written consent of The Avion. Correspondence may be addressed to: The Avion Newspaper, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 600 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Daytona Beach, Florida 32114. Physical office: John Paul Riddle Student Center, Room 110. Phone: (386) 226-6049. Fax: (386) 226-6727.
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Charlie Company Nominates Cadet of the Month
Luis Occhiuzzi Army ROTC
Cadet Zamora grew up in an environment that challenged his critical thinking skills, developed his character, and nurtured his natural leadership abilities. At twelve years old, he assisted his grandfather in developing his thesis project, which tested renewable energy methods. Zamora then went on to actively participate in the Boy Scouts for six years and lead community projects such as the restoration of a hundred-year-old antique amusement park attraction. Beginning in his 8th-grade year, he joined the Civil Air Patrol and worked his way up to Cadet Lt. Colonel. Along with a number of high school achievements, these experiences have developed him into a well-rounded young man with the immense potential to become a leader in the United States Army. While working with his grandfather in developing testing equipment for possible renewable resources, he learned the critical thinking skills that allowed him to overcome obstacles that came with the difficult task. He was able to practice and appreciate the importance of adaptability and persistence to deal with every complication along the way. He accredits the experience of working with limited resources with teaching him perseverance and hard work. After six years in the Boy Scouts, he proposed a daunting Eagle Scout project, which would bring life back to a hundred-year-old theme park attraction. With extremely limited resources, he was able to plan, manage, and complete the mission.
Zach Fedewa/The Avion Newspaper Freshman Andy Zamora works towards being contracted as an Officer for the United States Army. He plans to graduate in 2020 and currently majors in Aerospace Engineering. Cadet Zimora was the only freshmen to be nominated for cadet of the month.
He brought together the people, tools, and materials necessary to revitalize a cherished piece of his community’s history. CDT Zamora’s ability to collaborate and lead a project of this magnitude is evidence of the potential he carries. CDT Zamora’s passion for serving others and his ability to lead allowed him to reach great success within his local Civil Air Patrol chapter in Syracuse, NY. While participating in CAP, he was able to hone technical skills such as model rocket building, radio communication, map reading and UAV piloting. He also obtained the certification of Pro-Marksman through CAP’s involve-
ment with the NRA and a Ground Team Member 3 ranking for search and rescue missions. His eagerness to learn and teach others gave him the opportunity to attend leadership seminars and camps throughout his pre-college career. He concluded his tenure with the CAP as a Cadet Lt. Colonel. These experiences have proved invaluable for his leadership development. He managed to excel in extracurricular activities such as Civil Air Patrol, Boy Scouts and family projects all while maintaining an exceptional standing during his high school career. Due to an outstanding
work ethic and continuous search for self-improvement, CDT Zamora was inducted into the National Honor Society, elected class president and graduated Salutatorian of his class. CDT Zamora’s impressive involvements and achievements before college have molded him into a remarkable young man. He has continued to improve himself in every aspect through his contribution in Army ROTC and academic endeavors while studying Aerospace Engineering. It is with great pride Comanche Company recognizes CDT Zamora for his exemplary performance. We expect great things from him.
Thanksgiving Break Shuttles Departure S huttle Times November 24th 5pm November 25th 5am 9am 2pm 5pm November 26th 5am 9am 2pm 5pm
Shuttle from ERAU to Orlando International Airport One Way $20
Arriv al Shuttle Times November 28th 1pm 6pm 11pm November 29th 1pm 6pm 11pm
Shuttle from Orlando International Airport to ERAU Round Trip $40
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Industry & Technology 24 Exoplanet GJ-1132b: Earth-sized World Resembles Venus
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The Avion
Keenan Thungtrakul Staff Reporter
Mars Training Continued from A1 >> During the two week simulation at the MDRS, crew members conduct their research, go on EVA missions, study the stars, take care of the GreenHab, and so much more. These Embry-Riddle students will be attending their rotation from Dec. 26, 2015 to Jan. 10, 2016 as Crew 160. This crew consists of Crew Commander, Lycourgos Manolopoulos; Crew Astronomer/ Executive Officer, Ash-
enheit. Even though the planet is relatively hot, it is still capable of holding on to an atmosphere. By comparison, other rocky exoplanets, like Kepler 10b, are scorched, having surface temperatures of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit or greater. The planet is thought to be tidally locked, meaning only onehalf of the planet receives light from the star. One side is stuck in an eternal day while the other side stays in an eternal night. GJ-1132b was discovered using the same exoplanet detection method that is being used by the Kepler Space Telescope. The scientists call it the “transit method”, where the brightness of several thousand stars are monitored in real time. A planetary “transit” occurs when a planet passes in front of its parent star, slightly dimming the starlight. Detectors in the telescopes would measure such dips to give clues as to the planet’s size. The team that discovered GJ-1132b also used a spectrograph to measure the parent star’s gravitational wobble to determine the
planet’s mass. The results show that the planet is roughly 16 percent larger than Earth, with a diameter of 9,200 miles and 1.20 times the gravity of Earth. With the small size of the parent star, studying the planet’s atmosphere is easier since there will be less excess light from the star, allowing a spectral analysis of the planetary atmosphere to produce more credible results. Having less “junk” light makes it easier to differentiate between the light that’s passing through the exoplanet’s atmosphere and the light being emitted from the parent star. The light that passes through the exoplanet’s atmosphere is mapped onto a spectrum, allowing scientists to identify unique spectral “fingerprints” that tell what chemical compounds and molecules are present in the atmosphere. Studying an atmosphere on a hot exoplanet like this one will allow scientists to dig deeper into the workings of a rocky exoplanet, revealing the characteristics that make the planet “tick.” It is their
ley Hollis-Bussey; Crew Engineer, Marc Carofano; GreenHab Officer, Hiroki Sugimoto; Crew Biologist/ Health and Safety Officer, John Herman; and Crew Journalist, Cassandra Vella. During their stay at the MDRS, each crew member’s personal research will be ranging from blood pressure at different action points of the missions to study sounds and sleep and artificial sunlight to mobile maintenance technology prototype testing and behavioral studies. This opportunity will not be able to happen without
the help of donations, from pairs of socks to pocket change. MDRS Crew 160 could use all the help they can get! Students at ERAU are welcome to contact Ashley Hollis-Bussey for further information about the opportunity at Hollisba@ my.erau.edu or by visiting our website ERAU-MDRS. weebly.com and GoFundMe page at GoFundMe.com/ ERAU_MDRS. Also contributing: Lycourgos Manolopoulos, Mission Commander, and Cassandra Vella, Mission Journalist.
Photo Courtesy: MDRS Crew 160 The Embry-Riddle MRDS team poses for a group photo in front of the eagle near the Flight Line.
Left: Artist’s impresssion of a rocky exoplanet orbiting a red dwarf star like the one that hosts GJ-1132b.
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
Recently discovered by the MEarth-South telescope array in Chile, GJ-1132b is thought to be a rocky planet that could potentially host an atmosphere. If it does, scientists can utilize the Hubble Space Telescope and future larger observatories to study its atmosphere in detail. The planet orbits a red dwarf star 39 light-years away that is one-fifth the size of the Sun, and emits only 1/200th the amount of light. Even with a lower light intensity, GJ-1132b is still too hot for life as we currently know it. The planet orbits its host star once every 1.6 Earth days, at a distance of only 1.4 million miles, much closer than Mercury’s orbit at 96 million miles. Such a close orbit has baked the planet to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, close to the temperature of a high-grade oven. At this temperature, the planet is thought to be a twin of Venus, whose surface temperature is even hotter, at a blazing 900 degrees Fahr-
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hope that studying a planet like GJ-1132b will help them better understand the diversity in atmospheric composition for Earthsized planets. As stated by Jonathan Fortney, professor of astronomy and physics at the University of California at Santa Cruz, “before we can understand habitability, I think we need to understand the range of atmospheres that nature makes, and why.” The search for life beyond the
solar system has reached another milestone, and scientists are optimistic as to eventually finding an Earth twin that is capable of supporting life. Plus, GJ-1132b may not be alone; there may be sister planets with longer orbits and perhaps, one that is right in the star’s habitable zone, where liquid water can exist on the surface. The scientists’ next step is to look at more stars with bigger observatories. Red
dwarfs are more numerous than all the other stars in our galaxy, which means the next Earth could very well be orbiting a red dwarf somewhere out there. If astronomers are lucky enough to be looking at the right group of stars, they will detect the spectral signature of the elusive planet from the data acquired during its transit. With a big enough observatory, they are sure to catch this elusive paradise.
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Students Attempt to Remove Brazilian Pepper Trees Laura Hwangpo Correspondant
There is a plant that overruns an environment of other organisms and goes on a killing spree its entire life, just to make room for its future babies. Believe it or not, this “dangerous” organism lives right in your backyard, the Brazilian Pepper tree. The Brazilian Pepper plant is an aggressive, rapidly colonizing weed of disturbed habitats, natural communities, and conservation areas in southern California, Hawaii, Texas, and central and southern Florida. In the 1990’s, knowledgeable professionals recognized that the Brazilian Pepper Tree represented one of the most serious threats to the ecology of Florida’s natural areas. Near our Embry-Riddle campus area in Daytona, the invasive Brazilian Pepper Tree has caused harm by killing and causing evacuation of many organisms of the Spruce Creek Park. Affected are animals, plants and many insects; a team of Environmental Science students collected data and used it to evaluate and observe this invasive species, and concluded that the park would flourish more without the presence of this
plant. The team also came up with many ways to rid the park of these potent plants for a happier and healthier environment. How do you rid of something this dangerous from an innocent environment? There are many different Integrated Pest Management strategies. One strategy we used was to design a disturbance option that is available for selectively managing large infestations of Brazilian Pepper Trees within mangrove communities, which are highly sensitive to mechanical and chemical control practices. For the removal of this plant and any other plant, procedures need to be followed for proper removal. The tree gives off an oil call Urushiol when cut. The oil is irritating to the skin for some, and may cause a rash like poison ivy. The oil can be avoided by simply pulling the plant out of the ground, as opposed to cutting it down. When cutting the tree, cut 6 inches from the base and remove the tree. The stump should be sprayed with highgrade herbicides though simple herbicides like Roundup may be used to kill the plant as well. To properly remove
Photo Courtesy: Laura Hwangpo
Photo Courtesy: Flickr As shown above is a Brazilian Pepper Tree. These trees are very common now that they’ve been exposed to wildlife in Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, and Texas despite how they are serious threats to ecological environments.
this plant, having the proper equipment is a necessity. By dressing in protective clothing (i.e. long sleeve shirts, pants, boots, gloves) we were able to remove safely the Brazilian Pepper plants. This coverage prevents exposure to the Brazilian Pepper Tree’s sap, which can cause rashes, other skin irritations, and their branches, which can cause cuts and other types of scratches. Along with protecting ourselves, we also protected the other vegetation around the removal site by slowly and safely cutting down the Brazilian Pepper Plants and moving them carefully to a suitable location to ensure no other vegetation is harmed (ex. crushed, smashed, torn up from their root systems). The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission states that many raccoons, opossums and fruit-eating birds rely on this plant for food and protection. However, as a result of the plant’s allelopathy, or the suppression of
a plant’s growth due to another plant’s toxins, the berries of this invasive plant, when ripe, are known to be toxic towards the native wildlife in the area. Also, another factor the team took into consideration when removing this plant was to be able to distinguish between the Brazilian and the Holly plants, so we would not be ridding the area of the wrong plant. We prepared ourselves by reading a book written by Amy Ferriter, Brazilian Pepper Management Plan for Florida, in order to distinguish the Pepper Plant from other plants by their leathery and glossy leaves, found on the Holly plants that give off a turpentine smell when the leaflets are crushed and have lateral nerves on each side of the leaf. Removing the Brazilian Pepper Plant from the environment, eliminates some of competition between itself and other plants. Also, removing these dangerous plants will create more space in the environment, to
allow for increased growth in other species of plants, which will eventually create an environmental balance between the native vegetation and the organisms of the area. Therefore, next time you see a Brazilian Pepper Tree or any other invasive species, take the right action of removing it from the area, since it can cause harm to the
natural environment. Your actions towards a better environment will not only help fix the balance between the wildlife but will also help the public by keeping potentially dangerous organisms away.
Other Contrubitors: Charlie Scribner, Ben Klimko, Halle Green-Anderson, Catherine Yaun, and Jake Cameron
Photo Courtesy: Laura Hwangpo
Prakash Bhanderi/The Avion Newspaper
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Upcoming Games: Tuesday Women’s Basketball at Tampa Tampa, Fla. at 5:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs Ave Maria Univ Daytona Beach, Fla. at 7 p.m.
Wednesday No Games
Thursday No Games
Friday Women’s Basketbal vs Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Daytona Beach, Fla. at 2:00 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Daytona Beach, Fla. at 4:00 p.m.
Saturday Women’s Basketball vs Sioux Falls Daytona Beach, Fla. at 4:00 p.m.
Sunday No Games
Monday Men’s Basketball at Tampa Tampa, Fla. at 7:00 p.m.
24 Sports Embry-Riddle Volleyball Swept at Eckerd November
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Michael Pierce ERAU Athletics The Embry-Riddle volleyball team closed out the 2015 season on Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Eckerd Tritons. The Blue and Gold fell by scores of 25-14, 25-21, and 26-24 to finish the year at 12-18, while Eckerd ends the regular season at 17-13. Tamires Ferreira led all players with 14 kills and added 17 assists and eight digs as the Eagles ran a 6-2 offense for just the second time this season. Jordan Nakayama collected 18 assists to lead the team and picked up six digs.Evelina Abdurakhmanova had 12 kills and nine digs while Sumerr Paxton picked up a match-high 23 digs. The Tritons came out in the first set with an offense that was nearly impossible to stop. Eckerd had 20 kills and just one attack errors on 34 attempts, good for a .559 hitting percentage that propelled the home side to a 25-14 set win. The Eagles scored the first three points of set two but EC quickly bounced back, taking an 8-5 lead over the next 10 points. The Blue and Gold cut the deficit to a single point on three separate occasions but the Tritons had an answer every time as they earned a 25-21 win to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Set three started identically to set two, with ERAU jumping out to a 3-0 lead. The Eagles led by as many as four points multiple times during the set, maintaining the advantage until the final few points. Back-to-back ERAU errors tied the set at 22, but an Abdurakhmanova kill and a block from Erika Hinel gave the Eagles set point at 24-22. Eckerd ral-
lied from that point, scoring four straight points to win the set, 26-24. The match was the final time that seniors Sumerr Paxton, Erika Hinel, Tamires Ferreira and Evelina Abdurakhmanovatook the court for Embry-Riddle. For Paxton and Hinel, the duo finish their careers with 84 wins, three Sun Conference regular season and
tournament championships and two trips to the NAIA National Championship Final Site. Ferreira finishes her career with 55 wins in her three seasons and ranks third in ERAU history in assists. Abdurakhmanova was a part of 33 Eagle wins and, despite only having two seasons as an Eagle, ranks 10th in program history in kills and third in kills per set.
Zach Fedewa/The Avion Newspaper Senior Erika Hinel spikes the ball over the net in hopes of pushing the Eagles further into winning a set. Hinel had 3 kills and 3 blocks during the game
ERAU Women’s Basketball Battles Sailfish to 62-56 Overtime Victory Alison Smalling ERAU Athletics The Embry-Riddle women’s basketball team secured the program’s first overtime win on Wednesday, topping Palm Beach Atlantic 61-56 in the Eagles’ first NCAA II contest. The win puts the Eagles at 2-0 on the young season, while the Sailfish fell to 0-3 with the loss. The Eagles seemed out of sync to start the game, turning the ball over on four of their first six trips down the court and missing their first three shots. The Sailfish scored the first points of the contest, but they were also plagued by miscues and four
minutes into the contest, the visitors only led 4-0. At the 5:19 mark, Taylor Cyphers broke the Eagles’ scoring drought with a layup and that triggered a 12-2 run that gave the Blue and Gold a 12-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Eagles connected on only three of their 15 shot attempts for a total of six points, while on the other side of the ball, the Sailfish’ 5-of-6 shooting from the charity strip helped them to 13 second period points and a 19-18 lead at the half. The first five minutes of the third period saw PBA extend their advantage to
eight points (31-23), but as was the case in the first period, the Eagles were able to put together another run to overtake the visitors. An Ashley McWilliams layup keyed the Eagle comeback as ERAU outscored PBA 9-2 over the last 5:21 to take a 34-33 lead into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter featured two ties and three lead changes, but at the end of regulation the score was tied 46-46. Free throws proved to be the difference in overtime. The Eagles and the Sailfish scored five and six points, respectively from the field, but while the Sailfish made
five trips to the free throw line, connecting on four, the Eagles were 9-for-10, led by a perfect 5-for-5 overtime free throw performance by Sabrina Whiting. ERAU also came up with some big stops on defense to secure the win. Sabrina Whiting was the high scorer for the Eagles, finishing with 14 points to go with a career-high eight steals, four rebounds and two assists. PBA’s Hannah Grim led all scorers with 23 points in the Sailfish effort. The Eagles will play their first road contest of the year on Saturday when they make the short trip to Melbourne face Florida Tech in a 1 p.m. tilt.
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ERAU Men’s Basketball Cruises to 94-77 Road Win at Florida Tech vs Embry- Riddle: 94
Florida Tech: 77
Ryan Mosher ERAU Athletics Facing an undefeated team on the road, the Embry-Riddle men's basketball team used a blistering first half offensive surge and a resilient effort in the second half to down Florida Tech, 94-77 at the Clemente Center on Saturday. ERAU (2-0) shot 66 percent from the field in the first half, taking a 16-point cushion into the break before withstanding a three-point onslaught from FIT (2-1) in the second period, pulling away late for the first road victory of the year. "I thought our rebounding and our defensive toughness was outstanding tonight," Head Coach Steve Ridder said. "We weathered the storm in the second half when they made their run, and we're going to enjoy this win." Dalton Barnes, who became the 29th player in program history to score 1,000 points in an Eagle uniform later in the half, scored the first points of the game with a layup, and Ognjen Miljkovic doubled ERAU's lead with a layup of
his own with 18 minutes on the clock. Isaac Spence scored the first Panther points with a pair of free throws more than four minutes into the contest, but Daniel Kiesling three at the 15:14 mark pushed the Eagle lead to 10-2. Barnes surpassed the 1,000-point plateau at the 11:35 mark when Miljkovic found him for a layup that gave ERAU a 17-10 lead. Barnes needed just 71 games to earn his 1,000th point, and becomes the third Eagle in as many years to reach the mark, joining DeForest Carter (2013) and Cesar Pastrana (2014). Reed Ridder nailed the first of his four threes with 13 and a half minutes to go in the half, and the Eagles continued to stretch their advantage the rest of the half, taking a 23-10 lead on a Dillon Graham three with just under 10 minutes to go. Skyler Hogan's free throws at the 8:48 mark ballooned the ERAU lead to 15 before both teams played even for four minutes until a Graham layup from a Ridder assist put the visitors in front 39-22. Embry-Riddle's biggest lead came on a Graham fast-
break layup with seven seconds to go, but FIT hit a buzzer-beater to trim the lead to 51-35 before the break. Barnes led all scorers at the half with 12 while Miljkovic added 10 points in the period and Graham had nine. "We had 51 points in the first half against a great defensive team," Ridder said. "We had the tempo going our way, we knocked down some threes and had good inside play, and that was a huge statement half." The second half started much like the first as Miljkovic made good on a layup from a Barnes pass and Ridder drilled a three on a fastbreak that made it 56-35. Ridder picked Jermohn Queen's pocket and raced into the frontcourt to make a layup and get fouled before making the free throw as ERAU's lead grew to its' biggest margin to that point at 59-35. Ridder hit two free throws at the 14:03 mark to give Embry-Riddle a 67-43 lead, but the Eagles would be stuck on 67 for more than four minutes as FIT went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 15 on a Patrick Anderson jumper with 9:26 to go. Ridder came off the bench to hit a big trey and stop the Panther momentum, but Florida Tech refused to go away, chipping away at the Eagle lead until they cut it to eight at 73-65 on an Anderson three. The next two Eagle offensive possessions were critical
Prakash Bhanderi / Avion Newspaper
Ognjen Miljkovic barely gets the ball over the rim in the winning game against Florida Tech at the game this week.
as Ridder found a cutting Graham for an open layup to stop the bleeding, and Barnes racked up an assist with a pass to Graham on another easy layup. Daniel Kiesling went on a 4-0 run thanks to four free throws, and after a layup from FIT, Joseph Gonzalez hit a big three that took the air out of the Panthers' comeback hopes as Embry-Riddle went in font by 15 with 4:41 left. Gonzalez provided some more highlights in the form of a fastbreak dunk, and a few possessions later, collected a tip-dunk off a Ridder miss that made it 92-73 in favor of the Eagles as ERAU
cruised to the 17-point win. Ridder finished with 19 points to pace six Eagles in double-figures, burying four threes and recording five assists. Graham was an efficient 7-for-8 from the field for 16 points while Gonzalez scored 13 second-half points for 16 total. Miljkovic had 15 points and eigh boards while both Barnes and Kiesling finished with 12 points for Embry-Riddle. For the game, the Eagles shot 55 percent from the floor and 50 percent from beyond the arc and an impressive 81 percent from the charity stripe. ERAU outrebounded FIT 41-28, and
collected 19 assists as a team. "I couldn't be more proud of this team coming on the road, being mentally prepared, and thats in large part due to Coach Chad Keller and Coach Daniel Mondragon's scouting reports," Ridder said. "We were very balanced offensively tonight, and did a great job of making the extra pass and sharing the basketball." With the win, the Eagles have won three straight in the all-time series and evened the series at 3-3. Embry-Riddle returns to the ICI Center to host former conference mate Ave Maria on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m.
Women’s Basketball Comes Up Short at Florida Tech, 75-65 vs Embry- Riddle: 65 Ryan Mosher ERAU Athletics A resilient EmbryRiddle women's basketball team never quit in a 75-65 road loss to Florida Tech on Saturday. The Eagles (2-1), who once trailed by 20 in the first half, got it down to an eight-point deficit with 22 seconds
Florida Tech: 75 left, but the veteran Panthers (3-0) held off the Blue and Gold charge to deliver ERAU its first loss of the 2015 through 2016 season. Mercedes Jorge led the Eagles with 15 points, including a trio of triples, while Taylor Cyphers, Sabrina Whiting and Ashley McWilliams also reached double-figures
offensively, but FIT's Shequana Harris dropped 23 points to pace the Panthers as FIT shot 42 percent from the floor and went 23-for-32 from the free throw line. Lauren Elle berger tied the game early on with a pair of free throws that made it 4-4 at the eight-minute mark, but FIT responded with an 8-0 run to take a 12-4 lead midway through the period. A three from Jorge stemmed the tide, and another three from the junior a few moments later brought ERAU within two at 15-13 with 3:59 to go
in the first quarter. However, it was the home team that ended the stanza on a 13-5 run to enjoy a 10-point cushion heading into the second quarter. Ellenberger made the first basket of the second quarter, and when McWilliams made a three at the 7:37 mark it cut the lead to 32-25. Again, the Panthers had a run in them, pushing the FIT advantage to 45-25 with 2:07 before the half. Riddle came back with a 9-0 run to end the half as Laniere Coleman tallied four of those points on
assists from Jorge. FIT came out of the lockerroom with a strong offensive showing, going back up by 17 when Harris made a stepback jumper with 7:30 remaining in the period. ERAU got it down to a 10-point deficit when Cyphers made a pair of free throws with just over four minutes left, and Cyphers made a triple at the 1:44 mark that brought the Eagles within single-digits at 61-52 before Florida Tech scored the last four points of the period for a 13-point lead before the fourth quarter started. The fourth quarter
was a struggle for both teams offensively, but a McWilliams layup got the visitors to withing 10 at 68-58 with three minutes to go. After a free throw from FIT, Whiting nailed a trey to cut the lead to eight with 38 seconds left, but the Panthers made their free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win. Embry-Riddle shot 37 percent for the game and 81 percent from the free throw line. ERAU is back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 24 when the Eagles travel to Tampa for a 5:30 p.m. tip against the Spartans.
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Congratulations To: Steven Rose For winning last week’s puzzle contest! Please stop by The Avion office to claim your prize. The Avion’s puzzle contest will resume next semester - enjoy your Thanksgiving & Christmas breaks!