Box Score You could excuse Ashland University's men's basketball team if it collectively looked up at the final score on Thursday (Jan. 28) night and wasn't sure what to do.
That's because the Eagles, in taking a 77-64 decision from Ohio Dominican at Kates Gymnasium, played in a game which was decided by more than eight points for the first time since Jan. 2. AU improves to 15-4 overall and 9-4 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and remains one game behind Findlay for first place in the South Division.
"You look up, and you just want that clock to tick off," said Ashland head coach John Ellenwood, who won his 99th game leading the Eagles. "It was a good win for us today, and I thought our guys did a good job of winning the last four minutes of the game."
Coach Ellenwood's Post-Game Comments
The Panthers fall to 7-12, 4-9.
Ashland received 24 points, nine rebounds and three assists from junior forward Wendell Davis, who is just two boards shy of becoming the ninth player in program history to become a 1,000-point/500-rebound player. Davis now has 1,160 career points, and moves into 17th place on the program's all-time scoring list.
Junior point guard Adrian Cook added 14 points, six rebounds and three assists, while sophomore forward Marsalis Hamilton chipped in 10 points and six rebounds.
The Eagles had a 44-35 rebounding advantage in the victory.
Ashland jumped out to fast leads of 9-0 and 16-4, and led 25-11 with 8:51 to go until halftime before Ohio Dominican began to chip away. The Panthers has whittled their deficit to three points at 31-28 with 32 seconds until the break, but freshman forward Phil Frentsos' 3-point field goal lifted AU to a six-point lead at the half.
ODU continued to climb back into the game, eventually taking a 37-36 lead less than four minutes into the second half. With the score tied at 38, Cook scored on back-to-back driving layups, giving Ashland a lead it would not relinquish.
"When you need a big shot, and sometimes you're looking at your play list as a coach, and you're like, 'I don't know if this is working or this is working,' and, all of a sudden, Adrian's driving to the hole," Ellenwood said. "He makes me look pretty good sometimes."
With 4:06 to play, the Eagles led, 63-60. For the rest of the game, AU outscored ODU, 14-4.
Frentsos (eight points in 14 minutes) was part of a solid bench brigade which also saw junior forward Torin Wetzel post seven points and seven rebounds, and freshman guard Nick Bapst get three points and six boards.
"I thought Phil did a great job," Ellenwood said. "He's been coming along as the year's gone on here, and he's starting to figure it out. I think Phil's going to be a special player if he sticks it out here this year and just keeps buying into the process of wanting to get better every single day."
Ashland will return to Kates Gymnasium on Saturday (Jan. 30) at 3 p.m. to take on Tiffin (10-10, 6-7).
EAGLE NUGGETS: Prior to Thursday's game, there was a moment of silence for AU Professor Emeritus Dr. Don Rinehart, who passed away on Sunday (Jan. 24)…Ashland is 26-2 all-time against Ohio Dominican…The Eagles hit eight 3-pointers on Thursday, the 15th consecutive game they have had at least five treys.
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