Riverside, Calif. - The men's basketball team dropped to 0-5 with a 70-49 loss to No. 10 Hope International University.
It was the team's first game against an opponent other than Biola University or The Master's College, whom they played in their first four games of the season.
After trailing 9-21 just past the midway point of the first half, the Golden Eagles used an 11-5 run to cut the lead to 20-26 over the next six minutes.
By the halftime break, the Royals extended their lead to 33-23.
Hope took control of the game in the first five minutes of the second half with the help of a 12-3 run, to take a 45-26 lead with 15:00 left to play. The Royals never looked back, eventually pushing their lead to as many as 30 points (62-32) with just over six minutes to play.
Over the final six minutes the Golden Eagles out-scored the Royals 17-8, but they were unable to erase the deficit, eventually falling by a final of 70-49.
Guard Isaac Deese led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 11 points. Robert Looper tallied eight points, while Andre Marquez and Isaiah Hawkins each pitched in with seven points. Marquez led the team with six rebounds.
The Royals had three players who finished in double-figure in scoring, led by Matt Green who led all players with 16 points. Hope International is the 10th ranked team in the nation, in the NAIA Division I preseason coaches poll.
The men's basketball team will be out of action until after the Thanksgiving break. On December 4, the team will travel to Whittier College.
