Box Score In sports, you don't get asked how you win, but how many you win.
Ashland University's men's basketball team improved to 4-0 following a 60-43 win Friday (Nov. 21) night against Central State (Ohio) at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles shot 36.4 percent from the field, turned the ball over 15 times and allowed 29 points in the first half. In the second half, AU shot 42.9 percent from the field, had just six turnovers and gave up 14 points.
"We had a lot of turnovers in the first half," Ashland head coach John Ellenwood said. "Obviously, we needed to take better care of the basketball."
The 43 points allowed by Ashland was the program's lowest single-game total since an 80-36 win against Guelph during the 1987-88 season.
Sophomore forward Wendell Davis once again paced the Eagles, recording his first double-double of the season with a team-high 18 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. He was 6-for-10 from the field and 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
"The kid loves to play basketball and loves playing at Ashland, and I'm glad he's here," said Ellenwood.
Sophomore guard Boo Osborne and freshman forward Marsalis Hamilton each added a dozen points in the victory.
The Eagles trailed 33-30 inside of the 14-minute mark of the second half, then outscored the Marauders 30-10 the rest of the way. The eventual game-winning basket was a Hamilton layup to put Ashland ahead 36-34 with 11:35 to go.
Sophomore guard Adrian Cook also was a key second-half figure for the Eagles, scoring all six of his points in just eight minutes.
"Adrian's a great competitor," said Ellenwood. "He's a great player for us. He does it on both ends."
The Eagles will finish the pre-Thanksgiving part of their 2014-15 schedule Monday (Nov. 24) at 7 p.m. at home against Thiel.
"Our non-conference (schedule) is all about getting ready for our league play," Ellenwood said. "We've just got to get clicking. I'm not complaining about our record. We need to execute a little better."
NOTES: Ashland's 4-0 start is its first since the 2002-03 team began 8-0…The Eagles are the only 4-0 team in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Findlay and Walsh both are 1-0)… Ashland outrebounded Central State by a wide 47-25 margin…In the last three games, Davis has recorded two career-high games in points and a career-high game in rebounds...Ashland was leading the GLIAC in points allowed per game and was second in the conference in field-goal percentage defense prior to Friday night.
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