Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013, 6 p.m.
Croy Gymnasium, Findlay, Ohio
Ashland (9-11/7-10 GLIAC) at Findlay (15-6/12-5 GLIAC)
Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, 1 p.m.
Jesse Phillips Arena, Hillsdale, Mich.
Ashland (9-11/7-10 GLIAC) at Hillsdale (15-6/11-6 GLIAC)
(This week's games will be broadcast live on WNCO-AM 1340 with Matt Brubaker on the call.)
Setting The Scene
The Eagles bring a season-high, four-game winning streak into this week. That string of victories has helped push the Eagles back into contention for a GLIAC postseason berth. The GLIAC Tournament bracket includes eight teams. AU begins this week tied for ninth place in the overall league standings.
AU faces two difficult challenges this week. Findlay leads the GLIAC South Division and Hillsdale is in second place. Both of these teams defeated the Eagles earlier this season in Ashland.
About the Eagles
The current four-game winning streak is AU's longest since reeling off seven consecutive victories in the middle of last season (Dec. 30, 2011-Jan. 21, 2012)…in three February games the Eagles are averaging 82.7 ppg., shooting 54.3 percent from the floor (81-of-159), 49.2 percent from three-point range (29-of-59) and 77.5 percent (55-of-71) at the free throw line…the Eagles are averaging 67.6 ppg. That breaks down to 70.3 ppg., at home, 63.5 ppg., on the road…last week at Kates Gymnasium, AU downed Walsh, 88-78 and Malone, 79-62. The Eagles lost to both teams in mid-January on the road…AU has won three consecutive games by 10+ points. The last time the Eagles accomplished this came last season when AU won six consecutive games by double digits (Dec. 20, 2011-Jan. 19, 2013)…the point total against Walsh is the second highest of the season and the best output against a GLIAC foe. AU's high-water mark for points came on Dec. 29 against Ohio Christian (95-63)…against Walsh, the Eagles established season highs for free throws made (29), free throws attempted (35) and free throw percentage (82.9)…against Malone, the Eagles were +12 on the glass. That ties AU's best effort against a GLIAC opponent (AU was also +12 against Findlay). Ashland's biggest advantage on the boards this year is +19 against Ohio Christian…the Eagles are averaging 11.4 assists per game, but in the last four games, that figure has swelled to 14.3 assists per game. The Eagles had a season-high 18 assists against Lake Erie (Feb. 2). The Eagles also had a season-high 12 treys against the Storm…in two games last week the Eagles shot 54.8 percent (17-of-31) on three-point attempts...AU averaged 6.5 blocked shots per game last week and is averaging 5.3 bpg., over the last four games.
The Eagles are third in the GLIAC in defending the three-point field goal (32.7) and three-point attempts per game (20.6). Ashland is fourth in turnovers per game (12.2) and opponent field goal percentage (42.1) The Eagles are allowing 66.6 ppg., which puts them eighth in the conference...AU is 9-3 at home this season…the Eagles are 0-8 on the road this season. The last time Ashland won a road game was Feb. 2, 2012, at Ohio Dominican (69-59)…a year ago, Ashland was 3-8 away from home, 2-7 in GLIAC road games. In 2011-12, the Eagles were 12-2 at home with the losses coming to Hillsdale and Wayne State…the Eagles are 3-1 in games decided by three points or less…AU is 5-4 this season against GLIAC South Division foes. Last season the Eagles went 6-6 in the division.
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 rebounds per game (9.6). He's fifth in scoring (16.8 ppg.), seventh in field goal percentage (55.0) and eighth in blocks per game (1.1). He is 16th in the nation in double-doubles (nine) and he's 19th in rebounding.
The Cincinnati native has scored 20 or more points in a game six times this season.
Yates is this week's GLIAC South Division player of the year. This is the first time this season he's received that honor and it's the third time in his career he's been cited. Yates scored a career-high 32 points against Walsh last week. His previous high was 31 points against Point Park (Nov. 23, 2011). In two games last week, Yates averaged 22.5 ppg., 11.5 ppg., 2.0 bpg., and shot 60 percent (15-of-25) from the floor. He shot 83.3 percent (15-of-18) at the free throw line.
In his career, the 6-6, 245-pound Yates has scored 1,483 points and secured 786 rebounds. Yates is second in career rebounds at AU. The only player Yates trails is Larry Aulger (1,188). The senior is eighth in career points. Seventh place belongs to Rob Wininger (1,501).
Junior forward Will Evans (Lexington, Ky./Christian Academy) is second on the team in scoring (9.6 ppg.) and rebounding (5.9 rpg.).
Sophomore guard Brook Turson (Plymouth, Ohio/Columbus State) is fourth on the team in scoring (8.0 ppg.). Turson averaged 12.5 ppg., in two games last week. He shot 62.5 percent (5-of-8) on three-point field goal attempts and hit at a 56.3 percent clip (9-of-16) from the floor. Turson is eighth in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (42.9).
Turson scored a career-high 27 points against Lake Erie (Feb. 2). In that game he had eight three-point field goals, one shy of the school, single-game record (9 by Wininger vs. Mercyhurst, 1997).
DaWuan Thomas (Dayton, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) is averaging 7.2 ppg. Thomas, a 6-1, 175-pound redshirt sophomore guard, has a team-leading 21 steals.
Sophomore guard Cole Krizancic (Mentor, Ohio) is 12th in the GLIAC in three-point field goal percentage (42.2). Krizancic and Evans share the team lead in three-pointers (27). In two games last week, Krizancic was 4-for-9 (44.4) on three-point attempts and averaged 7.5 ppg.
Senior guard David Harris (Cincinnati, Ohio/Florida) has a team-high 45 assists (2.3 apg.). In two games last week, Harris averaged 9.5 ppg. On the year, he produces 5.5 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 50-51. His career record as a college head coach is 80-99. Ellenwood came to AU from Thomas More, where he was the head coach for three years.
About the Oilers (15-6/12-5 GLIAC)
Findlay has a two-game winning streak and has won five of its last six games. Last week, the Oilers won at Ohio Dominican (78-63) and at Tiffin (81-60).
The Oilers put up more three-point shots per game (21.5) than any team in the GLIAC and are third in triples made per game (7.4). The Oilers are first in free throws made per game (18.1), free throw attempts per game (23.5) and free throw percentage (77.1). Findlay is second in rebound margin (+3.7). The Oilers have three players averaging 5.0 rpg., or better – 6-5, 205-pound sophomore forward Jake Heagen (5.5), 6-8, 225-pound senior forward Brad Piehl (5.4 rpg.) and 6-6, 215-pound junior guard Greg Kahlig (5.0 rpg.).
Findlay is the GLIAC leader in defending the three-point field goal (28.1), is third in steals per game (7.9) and fourth in points allowed per game (63.1).
Kahlig is UF's leading scorer (16.0 ppg.). He's 11th in the GLIAC in scoring and he's 10th in three-point field goal percentage (42.4). Piehl averages 11.0 ppg.
The Oilers are 9-2 at home this season.
Charlie Ernst is in his second season as the UF head coach.
Eagles-Oilers
The first time these two teams played this year (Jan. 17), AU won, 61-60 at Kates Gymnasium. Thomas hit a jumper in the lane with two seconds left in regulation to give AU that one-point lead. Heagen missed a three at the buzzer that would have won the game.
Findlay had a five-point lead with 3:45 left in regulation and was ahead by three points with 36 seconds to go. Yates had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Evans had 14 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Ronnie Steward (Columbus, Ohio/Akron) scored 15 points. Steward is currently sidelined with a knee injury.
Kahlig had 21 points to pace the Oilers. Findlay shot just 37.7 percent (20-of-53) from the floor. In the second half, the Oilers were 9-of-27 (33.3) on field goal tries.
AU out-rebounded the Oilers, 44-32.
Findlay has a 55-24 lead in the all-time series. The Oilers have won eight of the last 10 games. The last time the Eagles won at Croy Gymnasium was in 2001-02, 92-80. Ashland has a 12-game losing streak at the venue. Last year, the Oilers won on their home court, 79-49.
About the Chargers (15-6/11-6 GLIAC)
Like Findlay, this is another demanding road test for AU. The Chargers are 10-2 at home this year. Hillsdale begins the week with a three-game winning streak and has won four of its last six games. Last week, the Chargers thumped Tiffin, 80-63 and tamed the Ohio Dominican Panthers, 75-64. The Chargers host Lake Erie on Thursday.
Hillsdale's size can cause a myriad of matchup issues. Nick Washburn, a 6-10, 260-pound senior center, is averaging 13.6 ppg., and 7.0 rpg. He's seventh in the league in rebounding and is the GLIAC leader in rejections per game (2.0). Tim Dezelski, a 6-6, 235-pound junior forward, is 10th in the conference in scoring (16.2 ppg.). He's third in field goal percentage (58.4), sixth in rebounds per game (7.3) and ninth in blocked shots per game (1.0).
Brandon Pritzl, a 6-2, 205-pound junior guard, is sixth in the league in three-point field goal percentage (43.4). He averages 11.4 ppg. The league leader in three-point field goal percentage is Anthony Manno (51.0) a 6-2, 190-pound junior guard. Ryan Choniere, a 6-6, 195-pound senior forward, is sixth in the conference in assist-turnover ratio (2.7).
Hillsdale's head coach is John Tharp. This is his sixth year as the HC head coach. In the last two plus seasons, Tharp has led the Chargers to a 59-18 record.
HC leads the GLIAC in triples per game (8.4) and three-point field goal percentage (40.8). The Chargers are second in opponent field goal percentage (32.0) and rebound margin (+6.6). Hillsdale is third in the GLIAC in points allowed per game (61.7) and field goal percentage (48.0).
Eagles-Chargers
The Chargers own a 10-game winning streak against the Eagles. The last win in that string came on Jan. 19 of this year, 54-48 in Ashland. That point total is a season low for the Eagles. The Eagles scored just six points in the final 4:34 of the game.
Washburn had 20 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots and Pritzl added 11 points. AU did a masterful job of defending the three-pointer, HC was 4-of-18 (22.2 percent). Yates led the Eagles with 14 points and David Harris had 10 points. Evans collected 10 rebounds.
A year ago, AU went 0-3 against Hillsdale and two of those setbacks came at Hillsdale. In the regular season, HC won, 82-79 in overtime. In the first round of the GLIAC playoffs, the Chargers held off the Eagles in overtime, 74-71. AU's last win at Jesse Phillips Arena came during the 2007-08 season, 71-67.
The all-time series leans in Hillsdale's favor, 26-22.
Up Next
The Eagles host Ohio Dominican next Thursday (Feb. 21, 5:30 p.m.) and then travel to Tiffin next Saturday (Feb. 23, 3 p.m.).
AU
MBB/ALK
