The University of Mary Washington men's basketball team fell into an early hole couldn't recover in an 85-69 loss at Salisbury in Capital Athletic Conference play on Saturday on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The Eagles were led by senior Taylor Johnson's 20 second half points.

After the Eagles scored first on a Tyler Thurston basket, Salisbury took charge with a 13-0 run, including three three pointers. After a three pointer from Brent Mahoney cut the deficit to 13-5, Salisbury scored another eight straight points (including a pair of three pointers) to push the score to 21-5 with 11:30 remaining in the half.

Trailing by 17 with 9:07 left, the Eagles went on a 10-0 run to cut the margin to seven at 26-19 with 6:08 on the clock. But Salisbury answered with a 10-0 run of their own to regain a 36-19. The Sea Gulls led, 38-20, at halftime.

The second half saw Salisbury stretch its lead to 27 in the opening minutes, but after a Sea Gull timeout, the Eagles found another run, going on a 21-5 spurt keyed by nine points from sophomore Emerson Burk to cut the deficit to 10 at 63-53 with 8:08 remaining.

But the Sea Gulls answered with back to back three pointers to return the lead to 16, and four free throws gave the Sea Gulls a 73-55 advantage with 5:56 to play.

Seven straight Eagle points, including five from Johnson, cut the deficit back to 73-62 with 3:50 remaining, and another Johnson three with 1:43 remaining made the score 79-67. But the Sea Gulls converted with free throws and dunks to end the Eagle threat, capped with an 86-69 victory.

Johnson, after being held scoreless in the first half, scored 20 in the second half, on 8-14 shooting. Burk and Asa Scott each scored 11 for UMW as well.

The Eagles shot 42.9% from the field (27-63) making 5-16 three point attempts, and went 10-17 from the free throw line. Salisbury shot 52.98% (27-51), making 12-23 three pointers, and went 19-23 from the free throw line. The Sea Gulls won the battle of the boards, 37-26.

Mary Washingotn will return to action on Wednesday when they host Christopher Newport University at 8 p.m.