Merritt Island's boys varsity basketball team dropped a non-conference game to Eau Gallie 43-32 on January 26 at Eau Gallie High School. The Mustangs, who entered the game with a 10-11 record, struggled offensively, scoring just 32 points across four quarters. Eau Gallie, which improved to 12-12 on the season, dominated the first half, outscoring Merritt Island 9-3 in the first quarter and 12-6 in the second.
The Commodores' balanced attack proved too much for the Mustangs, who shot just 34% from the field. Eau Gallie's leading scorer, junior guard Jordan Reyes, finished with 18 points and six assists. Merritt Island's top performer was senior forward Tyler Allen, who scored 12 points and pulled down eight rebounds.
The game marked Merritt Island's third straight loss in non-conference play this season. Head coach Mark Thompson said after the game that his team needs to improve its defensive communication and shot selection. 'We didn't execute our plays the way we practiced,' Thompson said. 'That's on me as a coach, but we have to fix it.'
Eau Gallie's win moves them closer to the playoff picture in the 5A-6A classification. The Commodores host Rockledge on Tuesday, while Merritt Island travels to Cocoa on Friday. Both teams remain in the middle of their respective districts' standings.