COSTA MESA, CA --- A 13-point deficit halfway through the first period proved to be no big deal for the NAIA's No. 2-ranked Eagles to overcome, as Concordia improved to 18-0 with a 78-62 win over Vanguard in GSAC action Tuesday night at The Pit.

Trailing by a 19-6 mark nearly 10 full minutes into the game, sophomore forward Cameron Gliddon kick-started a 10-0 run with a three-pointer and a dunk to get the struggling offense engaged.

The Eagles claimed their first lead of the opening period with 2:14 left before the break, when junior center Ben Smith scored a layup as part of a 14-0 Concordia rally that gave the Eagles a 35-26 lead heading into the locker room.

Smith, who ended with six points, scored to start the second half, giving CUI an 11-point lead, and the Eagles never trailed in the second half, gaining as much as a 22-point advantage on a jumper by junior forward Brandon Hucks to make it a 77-55 contest with 2:48 on the clock.

Overall, the Eagles took advantage of 21 Vanguard turnovers, scoring 25 points from Lion give-aways, including 18 points in the first half.

The Eagles were led by junior guard Justin Johnson, who scored 17 points and went 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Sophomore center Andre Murillo chipped in 14 points and went 5-for-5 from the field in just 16 minutes off the bench, as Gliddon finished with 12 points.

Hucks and junior guard A.J. Gasporra netted nine and 10 points, respectively.

Vanguard was led by William Thompson and John Chapman, as the duo combined for 27 points and 11 boards.

The loss drops Vanguard to 4-10, including 3-5 in Golden State Athletic Conference play, while the Eagles move up to 8-0 in conference tilts with their eighth road win of the campaign.

CUI next hosts Fresno Pacific, which entered the season as the NAIA's No. 3-ranked team and were ranked as high as No. 7 before taking a loss to San Diego Christian last Saturday.

The Eagles square off against Fresno Pacific this Saturday (Jan. 23), starting at 7:30 p.m. at CU Arena.