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Even though he wasn’t the flashiest of the Matador stars, Lima was considered one of the program’s steadiest performers in the paint over the past two seasons.  Lima came to Yuma from Recife, Brazil, in late summer of 2005, along with fellow freshman Brazilian imports Marcelo da Silva and Vitor Zoppa.  Da Silva and Lima battled through training camp for the starting job, with Lima winning the job and starting most of the games before the holiday break in December.  A knee injury forced him to have arthroscopic surgery over the break, but Lima showed his resolve by rehabilitating the knee quickly, and only missed two games.  Green and the coaching staff chose to bring Eddie off the bench for the next several games, but by the stretch run, it was obvious to everyone that Lima was not only fully recovered from injury, he deserved to start.  He didn’t disappoint when he was re-inserted into the lineup, and his inside presence was a pivotal difference as the Mats marched their way through the Region I Playoffs, and on to Hutchinson, Kansas, and the NJCAA Tournament, where they beat 7^th-ranked Coffeyville (KS).  Lima finished his freshman campaign averaging 6.9 points and 5.4 rebounds while starting 17 of the 31 games he played in.  He also shot over 62% from the field. 

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As ‘The Tree Trunk’ returned for his sophomore season, with the graduation of NJCAA All-American Engen Nurumbi, it was obvious that Lima would be heavily relied on for the Matadors’ success in the paint.  Lima was a rock for the Matadors, starting all 33 games the Matadors played in 2006-07.  As the last games of his final season as a Matador wound down, Lima stepped up his game, and played some of his best basketball at season’s end.  Eddie was named ACCAC Player of the Week February 3^rd after posting a double-double (17 points, 11 rebounds) against Yavapai, and helped lead the Mats to a first-place tie at the end of the regular season while shooting 56.9% from the field-3^rd-best in the ACCAC.  In the Region I Playoffs, Lima became a true force, dominating Cochise in the Region I Semis while scoring 15 points and ripping down 14 rebounds; and then shutting down Eastern Arizona’s NJCAA All-American center, Marcus Palmer, in the Region I Finals while the Mats routed the Gila Monsters, 81-60, for AWC’s 3^rd straight Region I title.  For his efforts, Lima was honored as the Region I Playoffs’ Most Valuable Player.  On the season, Lima averaged 7.4 points and 6.8 rebounds.  “Eddie’s improved a tremendous amount in two years,” remarked Green.  “He was a mainstay on our team, and helped lead us to region championships both years.  He anchored our defense, and was an integral part of our success.  We’re very happy about his decision, and we’re looking forward to watching him progress on the 4-year level.”

Lima moves on to be part of a Titans’ basketball program that was just two wins away from heading to the NCAA Tournament this season.  The Titans finished the 2006-07 season with a 20-10 record, falling to Cal-Poly in the semifinals of the Big West Conference Tournament.  “He will be a tremendous addition to our team for next season,” said Titans’ fifth-year Head Coach Bob Burton.  “He really gives us some size inside.  He’s very strong, very skilled and very intelligent.  He’s just starting to develop and he is going to get better and better.”