Ashland (2-3/1-2 GLIAC) at Saginaw Valley State (3-2/1-1 GLIAC)
Saturday, Dec. 8, 1 p.m.
James O'Neill Arena
Setting The Scene
Two teams looking to bounce back from losses collide on Saturday when the Eagles visit Saginaw Valley State. AU lost at Wayne State Wednesday night, 83-52. SVSU hasn't played since falling at Tiffin last Saturday (Dec. 1), 84-63.
The Eagles are looking for their first road victory of the season, they are 0-2 away from Kates Gymnasium. This could be a defensive battle, SVSU is scoring 65.8 ppg., and Ashland is producing 64.0 ppg. The Eagles began the week 17th in the nation in scoring defense (58.3 ppg.).
About the Eagles
Senior forward Evan Yates (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) is second in the GLIAC in rebounds per game (11.2). He's fourth in scoring (18.0 ppg.) and seventh in field goal percentage (55.8). A year ago, Yates was a first team All-GLIAC performer, a first team all-district choice and a second team Daktronics All-American. Yates has three double-doubles this season and has paced the team in scoring in every game but one. Yates had 18 points and nine rebounds at Wayne State…sophomore guard DaWuan Thomas (Dayton, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) is fourth in the conference in assist-turnover ratio (3.7)…senior guard Ronnie Steward (Columbus, Ohio/Akron) is fifth in the conference in assist-turnover ratio (3.2)….sophomore forward Paul Honigford (Sugarcreek, Ohio/Garaway) is sixth in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (55.6). Honigford is Ashland's second leading scorer (9.0 ppg.)…AU has had only one game this season decided by three points or less – a 71-68 loss at Urbana (Nov. 20)…the Eagles are looking for improvement at the free throw line where they are connecting on 63.3 percent (62-of-98) of their attempts…the Eagles had 13 turnovers on Wednesday, the same amount as Wayne State, but the Warriors took full advantage of those miscues, outscoring the Eagles, 21-11 in points off of turnovers…AU had received improved bench scoring throughout the early part of this season compared to last season, but at WSU, was outscored, 29-12 off the bench…Yates is averaging 8.8 free throw attempts per game. At Wayne State, he was 8-for-8 at the line…the Eagles will be looking to duplicate the defensive effort they had last Saturday against Ferris State when they limited the Bulldogs to 49 points. That ties the school record for fewest points allowed in a GLIAC game. FSU shot 32 percent (16-of-50) from the floor…the Eagles allowed a season-high 83 points at Wayne State.
Head Coach John Ellenwood
AU head coach John Ellenwood is in his fourth season at Ashland. A year ago, he guided the Eagles to a 15-12 record, 10-9 in GLIAC play. Ellenwood is a 2000 College of Wooster grad. This past fall, he was inducted into the college's Hall of Fame. At Ashland, Ellenwood is 43-43. His career record as a college head coach is 73-91. Ellenwood came to AU from Thomas More, where he was the head coach for three years.
About the Cardinals (2-3/1-1 GLIAC)
The Cards have won two of their last three games. SVSU dropped its last game, losing at Tiffin last Saturday (Dec. 1), 84-63…SVSU head coach Randy Baruth is in his first season at SVSU. Last year, he was the director of player development at Utah…Chris Webb, a 6-1 senior guard, is averaging 15.8 ppg. He's 11th in the conference in scoring…Brett Beland, a 6-1 senior guard, averages 13.0 ppg. He's 17th in the GLIAC in scoring…Rob Clark, a 6-4 senior forward, is third in the conference in steals (2.8 spg.) and seventh in rebounding (8.4 rpg.)…Kellen Smith, a 6-0 redshirt freshman forward, is the league leader in assists per game (6.0 apg./30 assists).
Eagles-Saginaw Valley State
The Eagles hold a 12-7 lead in the all-time series. Ashland has won four of the last five meetings.
AU won last year's game, 72-52 in Ashland. Yates had 25 points and 17 rebounds. AU led in points in the paint, 38-20. SVSU shot 27 percent (18-of-66) from the floor.
The last time the Cards defeated the Eagles was at SVSU on Jan. 20, 2011, 77-63. Yates had 15 points in that game. Ashland's last win at Saginaw Valley State was during the 2007-08 season, 65-64.
Up Next
Ashland's next three games will be at home. The first game in that home stand will be on Monday, Dec. 17 (5:30 p.m.) against Northwood.
AU
MBB/ALK
