Box Score Thanks to the work stoppage, NBA arenas around the country are dark. Maybe that's why the Ashland University Eagles and Point Park Pioneers decided to light up Kates Gymnasium on Wednesday (Nov. 23) afternoon.
In a game that harked back to the old-style NBA, the Eagles (2-2) outscored the Pioneers, 108-95 in a rare, mid-week matinee. This is the most points the Eagles have scored under third-year head coach John Ellenwood and it is the highest point total an Ellenwood-coached team has ever produced. This was the Eagles' highest output since they downed Mount Vernon Nazarene, 109-99 on Nov. 18, 2008.
AU scored 63 points in the second half when it shot 63.2 percent (24-of-38) from the floor and 70 percent (7-of-10) from three-point range. The Eagles outrebounded Point Park, 53-33 and led in second chance points, 17-2 and in points in the paint, 48-34. At halftime, the Pittsburgh school was ahead, 52-45.
Junior forward Evan Yates (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) had 31 points, 18 rebounds and three blocked shots. Yates scored 18 points in the second half. Junior guard Ronnie Steward (Columbus, Ohio/Akron) scored 24 points, 19 in the second half. Steward was 5-of-8 from three-point range. Four of his triples came after halftime.
Ashland also received 14 points off the bench from junior guard Jorian Hudson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati) and 11 points and seven boards from sophomore guard Jordan Berlin (Wilmington, Ohio).
"We were taking some bad shots at the end of the half," said Ellenwood in reviewing the game. "Halftime was a blessing for us. I told them we're going to get back in this game and the defense chipped away at their lead. We faced some adversity today and for a young team, there's a big lesson to be learned."
Point Park (6-4) entered the game averaging just over 94 points per game and in the first half, the Pioneers produced their own offensive highlight reel. Over the first 20 minutes, Point Park shot 53.8 percent (21-of-39) from the floor and 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from three point range. The Eagles couldn't do much defensively, they forced the Pioneers into just one turnover in the first half.
"When they get a stop they don't hesitate," said Ellenwood. "That's something we've taught our team. We can watch tape of this game to show our guys how to get into transition off a missed basket."
The Pioneers were playing an afternoon game after hosting Salem International last night. That had to take some life from their legs. The Pioneers also didn't have any answers for the 6-6, 240-pound Yates. Point Park has no one taller than 6-5 on the roster and that's a mismatch against Yates, who is averaging 21.7 ppg., 17.7 rpg., and shooting 63.9 percent (23-of-36) from the field.
"I'm not too concerned with the numbers," said Yates. "I'm in my third year now and our goal is to win the regular season championship and the tournament championship and play in the NCAA Tournament. I'm starting to run low on time here. That's my goal."
One goal this early in the season is to show constant improvement and build toward the GLIAC schedule, which begins next Thursday (Dec. 1) with a home game against Hillsdale. Last weekend in two games at Ohio Dominican, the Eagles struggled to score points. Point Park used a 2-3 zone against the Eagles and as the game went on, AU worked better against that scheme. For the game, Ashland was 12-of-32 (37.5 percent) from three-point range. The Eagles had 21 assists and nine turnovers.
"I'm getting more comfortable in the offense and starting to get confidence in my shot," said Steward.
As the score indicates, the Eagles have some work to do on defense. Pioneers point guard T.J. Heatherington played 40 minutes and had 34 points, 10 assists and six steals. He was 4-for-5 from three-point range. Guard Jimmy Taylor fired away for 24 points (6-of-13 from three-point range) and guard Robbie Heatherington had 19 points. Take that trio's ability to get hot from outside and the rapid pace favored by the Pioneers and a team can get caught up in game of pin-ball basketball.
"That's what we did in the first half, trying to outshoot them," said Steward. "In the second half we turned our defense into offense and let that dictate the game."
The Eagles went ahead to stay, 71-69 on a layup by Berlin with 12:20 left in the game. With 4:29 to go in regulation, Ashland had a 94-92 lead. The Eagles scored the game's next 11 points and led, 105-92 with 1:07 remaining in the game. By that time, the Pioneers were leaking oil. The Ashland bench outscored the Point Park reserves, 29-2.
The Eagles are idle until they host Hillsdale next Thursday.
AU
MBKB/ALK
