Box Score ASHLAND, Ohio – Just a couple days after taking GLIAC South leader Hillsdale to the brink, the AU men's basketball team played its first GLIAC interdivision game of the season, but lost at Northwood, 77-64, on Monday (Dec. 19) night.
The Eagles (4-6, 1-4 GLIAC) never led in the game after the Timberwolves (6-5, 3-3 GLIAC) leapt to a 17-4 lead in the early-going as six different players scored in the first six-plus minutes for Northwood.
Junior forward Evan Yates (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) led the Eagles offensively, scoring 19 points and pulling down eight rebounds. That was a season-low in rebounding for Yates, who is the nation's leader in that category.
Northwood led by as many as 21 points in the second half and that came at the 13:08 mark. The Eagles trimmed that lead down to a manageable eight points, 68-60, after a 3-pointer by junior guard David Harris (Cincinnati, Ohio/Florida) with 3:10 to play. Northwood's 6-0 run following the basket eliminated the Eagles' hopes for the comeback.
Ashland could not handle the Timberwolves, who shot 49.1 percent from the field, including a 51.6 percent mark in the first half. The Eagles connected on 40.7 percent of their shots from the floor.
Wes Wilcox led all scorers and rebounders with a double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds) for the Timberwolves. Bobby Lewis had 19 points and Cameron Joyce had seven assists to go with four points and four rebounds.
Both teams shot 4-for-16 (25 percent) from 3-point range, but for the second straight game the Eagles were 12-for-21 (57.1 percent) from the free throw line. The Timberwolves beat the Eagles on the glass, 42-33.
Sophomore forward Will Evans (Lexington, Ky./Christian Academy) had 11 points and eight rebounds. Junior guard Ronnie Steward (Columbus, Ohio/Akron) had 11 points and six assists and redshirt-freshman guard Jorian Hudson (Cincinnati, Ohio/University of Cincinnati) also scored 11 points and handed out five assists.
The Eagles will get some rest over Christmas break and return to the floor on Dec. 30 when they host Edinboro in nonconference action at Kates Gymnasium. Tip-off for that game is set for 7:30 p.m. AU resumes GLIAC play against visiting Findlay on Jan. 5.
AU
MBB/BB
