Box Score The Ashland University men's basketball team isn't quite ready to adhere to the statement, "Out with the old, in with the new."
Saturday (Dec. 29) at Kates Gymnasium the Eagles overwhelmed Ohio Christian, 95-63. This was Ashland's final game in the 2012 calendar year. AU can only hope that it can approach this style of play when the new year begins with a GLIAC game at Northern Michigan on Thursday (Jan. 3, 5:30 p.m.). If the Eagles can do that, they could be in good shape in the second half of the season.
The Eagles, now 4-5, showed very little rust in this contest. The overmatched Trailblazers (6-6) have been able to score points in bunches this season, even when they've lost. AU deprived them of that ability and that made for a long afternoon for the visitors.
Ashland grabbed control of the game midway through the first half. At the break, AU was in front, 49-27. The Trailblazers shot 27.8 percent (10-of-36) in the first half, including 1-of-11 (9.1 percent) from three-point range. The Eagles did an exceptional job of cleaning the glass, which meant there were few second chances for the visitors. For the game, the Eagles outrebounded Ohio Christian, 55-36 and led in second chance points, 19-7.
Senior forward Evan Yates (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) scored 16 points and grabbed a season-high 20 rebounds. This was the fourth double-double of the season for Yates and his first since Dec. 1. The last time Yates had 20 rebounds in a game was on Nov. 18, 2011, against Central State.
Ashland saw six players reach double digits in scoring. Sophomore guard Brook Turson (Plymouth, Ohio/Columbus State) led the Eagles with a career-high 17 points. Sophomore guard Cole Krizancic (Mentor, Ohio) and sophomore forward Paul Honigford (Sugarcreek, Ohio/Garaway) scored 13 points each and senior guard David Harris (Cincinnati, Ohio/Florida) had 12 points and a season-high six assists. Senior guard Ronnie Steward (Columbus, Ohio/Akron) had 11 points.
Krizancic and Steward had three three-pointers apiece. The Eagles buried a season-high 11 triples. The 95-point outburst is the highest of the season. It's the first time AU reached the 90-point plateau since a 96-86 triumph against Ohio Dominican at Kates Gymnasium on Jan. 14, 2012. The Eagles entered the game averaging 63.2 ppg.
This was AU's final non-conference game of the season. Ashland ends the year with a 2-1 mark outside the GLIAC.
Treyvon Crater had 16 points to pace Ohio Christian. Guard Wesley Russell had 12 points and nine rebounds.
This was Ashland's last home game until Jan. 17, when Findlay comes to town. The Eagles play their next four games away from Kates Gymnasium.
AU
MBB/ALK
