Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
Berry Events Center, Marquette, Mich.
Ashland (4-5/2-4 GLIAC) at Northern Michigan (2-8/1-6 GLIAC)
Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, 1 p.m.
SDC Gymnasium, Houghton, Mich.
Ashland (4-5/2-4 GLIAC) at Michigan Tech (8-2/5-1 GLIAC)
(Both games will be broadcast live on WNCO-AM 1340 with Matt Brubaker on the call.)
Setting The Scene
The Eagles open the new year with their longest trip of the year, a jaunt to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. AU's next four games are away from home and all are GLIAC games – the Eagles don't venture outside the conference for the rest of the season. Ashland is coming off of a 95-63 victory over Ohio Christian last Saturday (Dec. 29) at Kates Gymnasium.
Northern Michigan has struggled recently while Michigan Tech looks to be one of the GLIAC's top teams this season.
About the Eagles
Against Ohio Christian, the Eagles canned a season-high 11 three-point field goals. AU was 11-for-24 (45.8 percent) against the Trailblazers. Ashland is third in the GLIAC in three-pointers per game (7.2)…the Eagles outrebounded Ohio Christian, 55-36. That +19 figure is Ashland's highest of the season…six players reached double digits in scoring against Ohio Christian, that's also a first this season. AU had four players score in double digits in the season opener against Oberlin…last Saturday's 32-point margin of victory is AU's largest since John Ellenwood became the head coach. It's Ashland's largest margin of victory since a 34-point win (104-70) against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez on Nov. 25, 2007…the Eagles end the year 2-1 outside the GLIAC…AU scored a season-high 49 first-half points last Saturday…the Eagles are 57-for-73 (78.1 percent) at the free throw line over the last three games. That's a major improvement on AU's season figure (69.8) at the charity stripe…over the last four games, AU has rejected 13 shots (3.3 bpg.)…Ashland is second in the GLIAC in defending the three-point field goal (opponents are shooting 28.5 percent). AU is fifth in the conference in points allowed per game (64.0)…only two teams have scored more than 70 points against AU this season – Urbana tallied 71 and Wayne State scored a season-high 83…the Eagles enter this week with wins in two of their last three games…the Eagles are 1-1 in games decided by three points or less…the Eagles are 18th in the nation in turnovers per game (11.8)…the Eagles were 12-2 at home a year ago, they are 4-2 at Kates Gymnasium this season…AU is 0-3 on the road this season. Ashland's last road win came at Ohio Dominican, 69-58 on Feb. 2, 2012. The Eagles were 3-8 away from home last season, 2-7 in GLIAC away games.
Eagles To Watch
Senior forward Evan Yates (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) was a first team All-GLIAC and all-region choice a year ago and was a second team All-American (Daktronics). He was the first AU men's basketball player to receive All-America laurels in 20 years. Yates is second in the GLIAC in rebounding (10.3 rpg.), 10th in scoring (15.9 ppg.) and seventh in blocks per game (1.1).
Yates has four double-doubles this season. Against Ohio Christian, he had 20 rebounds. The last time he had 20 rebounds was against Central State on Nov. 18, 2011. In his career, Yates has scored 1,290 points and secured 688 rebounds. Yates is third in career rebounds at Ashland, trailing Larry Aulger (1,188) and Greg Emmons (734). The senior is currently 12th on the school's career scoring list. Chris Keshock (1,327) is 11th, Ron Pratt (1,344) is 10th and Vahn Knight (1,355) is ninth.
Sophomore guard DaWuan Thomas (Dayton, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) is third in the GLIAC in assist-turnover ratio (3.6). Over the last four games, Thomas has two turnovers in 109 minutes. The 6-1 Thomas is fourth on the team in scoring (7.7 ppg.) and second in assists (18). AU's leader in assists is senior David Harris (Cincinnati, Ohio/Florida). Harris has 25 assists. He had six against Ohio Christian, one off his career high. Harris is averaging 2.7 apg.
Senior guard Ronnie Steward (Columbus, Ohio/Akron) is second on the team in scoring (9.7 ppg.). Steward had a season-high 20 points against Lake Superior State (Dec. 19).
Sophomore guard Brook Turson (Plymouth, Ohio/Columbus State) scored a season-high 17 points against Ohio Christian. Turson is in his first season at AU. That point total led the team against Ohio Christian. Over the last three games, Turson has produced 11.0 ppg.
Junior forward Will Evans (Lexington, Ky./Christian Academy) is second on the team in rebounding (5.0 rpg.) and third in scoring (8.9 ppg.).
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 45-45. His career record as a college head coach is 75-93. Ellenwood came to AU from Thomas More, where he was the head coach for three years.
About the Wildcats (2-8/1-6 GLIAC)
The Wildcats come into the AU game looking to break a two-game losing streak. NMU has lost five of its last six games. The last time the Wildcats won was on Dec. 16 at Ohio Dominican, 77-73. This is NMU's first game since losing at Lewis on Dec. 30, 64-45. Northern Michigan is eighth in the GLIAC North Division.
NMU's leading scorer is 6-6, 220-pound junior forward Matthew Craggs. He's good for 14.7 ppg., and also gets 5.7 rpg. Scooter Johnson, a 6-7, 220-pound junior forward, averages 10.9 ppg. T.J. Cameron, a 6-3, 203-pound senior forward, averages 4.7 rpg.
NMU's head coach is Doug Lewis. He's in his third season on campus. Lewis was the head coach at Central State for seven seasons before coming to NMU. A year ago the 'Cats were 9-17, 5-14 in the GLIAC.
Eagles-Wildcats
Ashland has an 11-8 edge in the all-time series. Last year, the Eagles won in Ashland, 87-79. Yates scored 24 points in that win and Steward had 20 points. Ashland shot 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the field. NMU had only five turnovers.
In 2010-11, at NMU, the Wildcats won, 72-68. AU has won three of the last four meetings. Ashland's last win at Northern Michigan came in 2009-10, 86-70.
About the Huskies (8-2/5-1 GLIAC)
Michigan Tech is tied for second place in the GLIAC North Division. The Huskies start this week with a five-game winning streak. MTU's last game was at Wisconsin-Parkside on Dec. 29. The Huskies defeated the GLVC school, 69-51. During this five-game streak, Tech has also downed the two top teams in the GLIAC South Division – Hillsdale (73-55) and Findlay (66-49). Tech hosts Lake Erie on Thursday.
Head coach Kevin Luke is in his 19th season. He's guided the Huskies to four GLIAC crowns and five NCAA playoff berths. Luke is in his 19th season on the MTU bench. This team is following the script of most of his teams. MTU is second in the GLIAC in points allowed per game (60.4), opponent field goal percentage (39.1) and turnovers per game (11.8). Tech is fourth in the league in rebound margin (+4.4).
Ali Haidar, Tech's 6-7, 240-pound senior forward, is one of the most dominating players in the region. He's first in the GLIAC in rebounding (10.5 rpg.), second in scoring (23.5 ppg.) and fourth in field goal percentage (57.8). He was the GLIAC player of the year in 2011-12 and a third team All-American (Basketball Times).
Tech has found another productive player in 6-7, 200-pound sophomore forward Phil Romback. He's averaging 10.8 ppg., and 5.2 rpg. He's fourth in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (48.6). Austin Armqa, a 6-3, 185-pound junior guard, is scoring 12.8 ppg., and is seventh in the GLIAC in field goal percentage (57.0).
Eagles-Huskies
The lead in the all-time series between AU and MTU belongs to the Huskies, 14-8. Ashland won last season at Kates Gymnasium, 73-59. Yates had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Haidar had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Thomas had 14 points and Steward chipped in with 12 points. The game was tied, 34-34 at halftime. Over the final 20 minutes, AU outscored the Huskies, 39-25. Although the game was tied four times and the lead changed hands six times, Ashland never trailed in the second half.
The teams have split the last four meetings. Tech's last win over AU came in Houghton in 2010-11, 63-60. The last time Ashland won at Michigan Tech was during the 1999-00 season, 96-88 in overtime. Tech has a seven-game winning streak against the Eagles on its home floor.
Up Next
The Eagles will visit Canton, Ohio, twice next week. On Thursday (Jan. 10, 6 p.m.), AU will play at Walsh. Saturday (Jan. 12, 1 p.m.), the Eagles are at Malone. This is the first year Walsh and Malone have been GLIAC members.
AU
MBB/ALK
