YUMA, Ariz. – The Arizona Western Matadors Men's Basketball team (14-6, 7-3) saw a first-half lead slip away in a 77-68 loss to Eastern Arizona (16-4, 9-0) on Friday night at Guitteau Gymnasium.

AJ Marmolejos had a team-high 15 points to lead five Matadors in double-figures in the loss, scoring 14 of those points in the first half.

The Matadors outscored the Gila Monsters 40-39 in the first half, at one point opening up an eight-point advantage early in the half. The Matadors shot 16-for-27 in the field in the first half, building an early lead. Eastern Arizona used a late run to cut the Matadors' lead to one point before the break.

Arizona Western watched its first-half lead disappear in the second half, shooting 10-for-32 in the final 20 minutes as Eastern Arizona outscored the Matadors 38-28 in the second half.

Matija Gledic finished the night with 13 points while Jannoy Thomas had 12. LaRoi Glover and Edwin Suarez each had 10 points while Suarez had a team-high eight rebounds and Glovers ended the game with six.

The Matadors are back in action on Saturday at 4:00 pm taking on the Gila Monsters at Guitteau Gymnasium.