WASHINGTON, DC --- The Runnin Royals were hitting shots from outside, but just couldn't get in front of host Gallaudet, dropping a 68-60 decision in Washington DC on Tuesday.  The non-conference loss was the second defeat in a row for EMU, as the men slide to 4-3 on the year.

Eastern Mennonite heads to Bridgewater this weekend for the 29th Annual Don Glick Classic.  The Royals play Virginia University of Lynchburg Friday at 6:00pm, and then get Averett Saturday at 3:00pm.  As part of food drive for the Blue Ridge Food Bank, fans will get free admission by presenting two canned food items at the gate.

Tuesday's game had a blazing start as both teams were hitting offensively.  Jerome Jones (Charles Town, W.V./Washington) hit his second triple just 4:46 into play to keep the score locked at 13-13.  The offenses slowed down from there but the men had a 14-13 lead when Tariq Caldwell (Richmond, Va./Lee-Davis) hit a free throw two minutes later.

Gallaudet (1-4), who has played well against some good teams so far this year, scored the next eight points to zip in front 21-14, but the Royals answered with back-to-back threes to get back within one at 21-20.

The men faltered, however, as the Bison slowed built up a double digit lead at 34-24.  The final minutes of the half turned sloppy for both teams with EMU getting the only points over the final 3:42, a layup and triple, to trail 36-32 at halftime.

After a few minutes of back-and-forth play in the second, Gallaudet went on a prolonged 10-2 run to bump their cushion to 50-40.  Twice they had the lead at 11, including 58-47 with 7:10 to play.

Isaiah Harris-Winn (Frederick, Md./St. Maria Goretti) scored five points in an 8-0 run to get the Royals with three, and Maleke Jones (Charles Town, W.V./Washington) nailed a three ball to slice it down to 60-58.  Christian Hansen's (Manassas Park, Va./Osbourn Park) layup with 2:10 remaining kept the deficit at two points, at 62-60, but that turned out to be EMU's final points.

The Bison went 4-4 from the stripe in the final 39 seconds to ice the decision, 68-60.

Eastern Mennonite ended up shooting better from outside the three-point arc than inside of it.  The men were 14-36 from long range for 38.9%, but only 8-25 for 32.0% from inside.  They also shot just 2-8 from the free throw line.  Gallaudet finished 49.0% from the floor, including 7-16 from outside.

Jerome Jones hit four triples and led the Royals with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists.  Harris-Winn added 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two blocks.  Maleke Jones scored 12 with three assists and RaShawn Latimer (Warrenton, Va./Kettle Run) had 11 counters with two steals.  Each of those three players hit a trio of three pointers.

The rest of EMU's team combined for eight points on 3-16 shooting.

Trey Gordon hit five triples to lead Gallaudet with 20 points.  Joshua McGriff added 19.