Box Score The Ashland University men's basketball team did its best to turn a sprint car into a jalopy on Thursday (Jan. 10) night. Unfortunately, at the end of the night, this turned into a demolition derby and the Eagles took a couple of hits that caused them to stall.
The Walsh Cavaliers entered Thursday's GLIAC game at Alumni Arena in North Canton, Ohio, averaging 83.2 ppg. Ashland kept the Cavs nine points below that figure, but in the end, lost their third consecutive game, 74-68. The loss leaves the Eagles with a 4-8 record, 2-7 in the conference. Walsh is 8-4 and 4-4.
The Eagles trailed, 31-26 at halftime. In the second half, AU shot 62.5 percent (15-of-24) from the floor, 60 percent (3-of-5) from three-point range and 87.5 percent (7-of-8) from the free throw line. All of that still wasn't enough to keep the Cavaliers off track. Down the stretch, in the game's final four minutes, Walsh was 6-of-8 at the free throw line and never gave up the lead. AU gave the ball away several times and those giveaways came back to haunt them.
Ashland didn't take long to erase that five-point halftime deficit. With 16:46 left in regulation, senior forward Evan Yates (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) hit two free throws to tie the game, 35-35. Yates had 26 points (11-of-18 from the field) and six rebounds. He scored 15 points in the second half.
With 11:29 left in the half, sophomore forward Paul Honigford (Sugarcreek, Ohio/Garaway) buried a three-pointer to put the Eagles ahead, 46-44. Ashland's next five points were scored by sophomore guard Cole Krizancic (Mentor, Ohio). Krizancic, who has found a niche providing scoring punch off the bench, had a layup and a triple to give the Eagle a seven-point lead, 51-44 with 9:28 left to play.
The Cavaliers, now 7-1 at home, regrouped and had a 61-59 lead with 4:08 left after a layup by forward Jeff Copeland. Copeland had 10 points and five rebounds. All of his points came in the second half.
That Walsh lead grew to three points, 62-59 after Davonte Beard made one of two free throws with 3:58 to go. AU kept the pressure on and after two free throws by sophomore guard Dawuan Thomas (Dayton, Ohio/Trotwood Madison) with 3:26 left, trailed, 62-61. Walsh answered with a pair of Rian Burrell free throws with 3:06 left for a 64-61 lead. At the 2:38 mark, Burrell hit a jumper for a 66-61 lead.
Ashland got as close as two points, 66-64 with 2:15 left on an old-fashioned three-point play by Yates, but then Walsh scored the game's next eight points to take a 74-64 lead. During that time, Walsh nailed four free throws and added two field goals. Ashland turned the ball over twice during that stretch.
Senior guard Ronnie Steward (Columbus, Ohio/Akron) had 14 points for AU. Junior forward Will Evans (Lexington, Ky./Christian Academy) had seven points and a team-high eight rebounds. Evans was dogged by foul trouble for much of the game.
Burrell led Walsh with 18 points. Kenny Kornowski, a 6-9 forward, had 14 points and seven rebounds. He came into the contest averaging 18.5 ppg., and 9.7 rpg. (second in the conference). Brad Dupont gave the Cavaliers a complete game off the bench with 10 points, six rebounds and three assists.
This was the first time AU and Walsh met as GLIAC members. This is Walsh's first year in the conference.
AU will play at Malone on Saturday (Jan. 12, 1 p.m.).
AU
MBB/ALK
