Box Score ASHLAND, Ohio – In a game that featured 16 ties and 13 lead changes, the Ashland men's basketball team came up on the wrong end of the last lead change as No. 25 Hillsdale triumphed over the visiting Eagles, 69-65, in the GLIAC opener for both teams on Thursday (Dec. 2).
Neither team led by more than five points in the second half. The largest lead of the game was only six points by Ashland with 9:08 left in the first half after a three-pointer by sophomore guard Ronnie Steward (Columbus, Ohio/University of Akron) made it 26-20.
The Chargers (7-0, 1-0 GLIAC) went on an 15-4 run at that point to take a 35-30 lead with 2:20 left in the half.
Sophomore center Evan Yates (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) converted a three-point play on the other end of the floor to trim the Chargers lead to 35-33, which was the score at the intermission.
A three-pointer by junior forward Antoine Childs (Beaver Falls, Pa./Western Carolina) gave the Eagles the lead at the start of the second half, but it would be their last lead until 7:53 remained in the game. At that mark, Steward connected on a jumper to give AU a 53-51 advantage.
The teams traded baskets for a few minutes and freshman guard DaWuan Thomas (Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) gave the Eagles a 63-61 lead with just over two minutes to play.
The Chargers took a one-point lead on a pair of free throws by Nick Meinart with 1:15 left, but Thomas answered again to give Ashland the 65-64 lead with 43 seconds left.
Hillsdale's Tyler Gerber responded with a three-point play to give HC a 67-65 advantage. The Eagles turned the ball over on the ensuing possession and Brad Guinane put the game away with a layup with seven seconds left.
Steward paced the Eagles with 13 points, while Yates added 11. Childs and senior forward Justin Garris (Ledgewood, N.J./NJIT) contributed 10 points each.
The Eagles shot 50 percent (26-for-52) from the field, but struggled moving the ball offensively, getting just seven assists on the night. Ashland also dominated the boards, 35-24.
The Chargers turned the ball over just nine times and shot 51 percent (24-for-47) from the field and forced AU into 17 turnovers. Hillsdale also shot 7-for-15 from three-point range.
Ashland will not have long to stew over the loss as it travels to Wayne State on Saturday (Dec. 4) for a 1 p.m. tip off. The Warriors are 4-1 (1-0 GLIAC) and coming off a win over Lake Erie.
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