Box Score It's difficult for an athletic program to produce a Rhodes Scholar. As the Ashland University Eagles have found out, it can be difficult to boast Roads Scholars too.
The Ashland University men's basketball team went into Saturday's game (Feb. 16) at Hillsdale seeking its first road victory in over a year. There are far easier places to go looking for a victory than HC's Jesse Phillips Arena. But on this day, the Eagles demonstrated poise, smarts and guile under pressure in defeating the Chargers, 64-56.
This win broke a 10-game losing streak to the Chargers. It is the first time AU head coach John Ellenwood has beaten Hillsdale. This is Ashland's first road win since winning at Ohio Dominican on Feb. 2, 2012.
The win helps AU's push to try and nail down one of the final spots in the GLIAC Tournament. The Eagles are 10-12 overall, 8-11 in the GLIAC. AU has three regular season games remaining. Ashland has won five of its last six games.
Ashland trailed, 27-21 at halftime on Saturday. The Eagles were able to reverse their fortunes by shooting 70.6 percent (12-of-17) from the floor in the second half. AU didn't miss from three-point range (5-of-5) over the final 20 minutes. At the free throw line, the Eagles were14-of-19 (73.7 percent) in the second half. Ashland outscored the Chargers, 43-29 in the second half.
For the entire game, the Eagles caused havoc on the glass. The Eagles were matched against one of the GLIAC's better rebounding teams and out-rebounded the home team, 37-29.
All of those figures take on a special shine when these other numbers are thrown into the mix. Hillsdale is second in the conference in opponent field goal percentage (32.0) and rebound margin (+6.6). The Chargers entered this game with a four-game winning streak and wins in five of their last seven games.
Hillsdale (16-7/12-7 GLIAC) was able to hold onto the lead throughout the early part of the second half. AU began to make its move with just over 14 minutes left. With 14:15 remaining in regulation, sophomore guard Cole Krizancic (Mentor, Ohio) put in a layup to bring the Eagles to within 36-32. With 13 minutes to go, senior forward Evan Yates (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) shook free for a layup and the HC lead was down to 36-34. AU took a one-point lead, 39-38 on a Krizancic jumper with 11:26 to go.
The game was tied, 44-44 with 7:07 to play. Moments later, the Eagles made their move and the Chargers couldn't answer. With 5:47 to play, sophomore guard Brook Turson (Plymouth, Ohio/Columbus State) was on target with a three and AU was in front, 47-44. HC's Nick Washburn turned the ball over and sophomore guard DaWuan Thomas (Dayton, Ohio/Trotwood-Madison) knocked down a triple for a 50-44 lead with 5:07 to go.
The Chargers gave the ball away again and with 3:43 left and the Eagles got a jumper from Thomas to make the score, 52-44. Hillsdale could get no closer than four points the rest of the game.
Turson was exceptional. He scored a game-high 16 points. All of those points came in the second half. The sophomore grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds. He played 38 minutes.
Krizancic had 11 points, six in the second half. Yates had nine points and seven rebounds and sophomore forward Paul Honigford (Sugarcreek, Ohio/Garaway) had seven points and four rebounds. Six of Honingford's points came after the intermission.
Forward Tim Dezelski led the Chargers with 13 points, three rebounds and three blocked shots. Guard Brandon Pritzl had 11 points and six rebounds. AU did an excellent job defending the three-point field goal. HC is second in the GLIAC in three-point percentage (40.8). Against the Eagles, they connected on 6-of-22 attempts (27.3 percent).
The win breaks a particularly frustrating streak for the Eagles at Hillsdale. A year ago, AU lost twice to the Chargers in overtime at Hillsdale. The second of those games, a 74-71 setback, came in the first round of the GLIAC playoffs.
AU still has designs on a postseason berth this year. Saturday's victory certainly gave that dream a boost. Next up for the Eagles is the final home game of the season – Thursday (Feb. 21, 5:30 p.m.) against Ohio Dominican.
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