Box Score The Ashland University men's basketball team turned in one of its most complete games of the season and dispatched a quality Saginaw Valley team, 72-56, on Saturday (Jan. 25) afternoon at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles (10-9, 3-8 GLIAC) have now won three of their last four to climb into GLIAC Tournament contention.
Ashland led Saginaw by three, 36-33, with 17 minutes remaining, but then shut down the Cardinals for almost 10 minutes by going on a 20-5 run that pushed its lead to 56-38. The Eagles held SVSU to just 1-for-11 shooting and four turnovers, while redshirt-junior wing Aaron Thompson knocked down two triples in that stretch. Sophomore guard Dylan Beaugard and freshman guard Brandon Haraway also hit 3-pointers on the run and Thompson collected six boards.
"We keep preaching that it's one possession, one four-minute round. We always say we're going into a 10-round fight," said head coach John Ellenwood. "It's usually that stretch from 14 minutes in the second half to six minutes that a lot of coaches are nervous about when they have a lead. That was a point when it was a three-point lead and it could go either way. You hope you have the legs during that time."
The second-half run fueled the Eagles to the finish as their lead never went under 14 points after that as they were able to lock in defensively on a team that came in averaging 75 points per game.
"Our focus has changed since the beginning of the year and we've upped our focus," Thompson said. "Our team defense has gone to another level. I feel like it can keep getting better with that focus."
Ashland got solid contributions all around, including the 16th career double-double for Thompson, who had a game-high 19 points to go with 13 rebounds. Senior guard Rodrick Caldwell had eight points and corralled a career-best 10 rebounds while adding five assists.
Junior forward Derek Koch turned in another strong effort with 13 points and seven rebounds.
"I've just been trying to find open areas and use my quickness to my advantage," Koch said. "We really focused in and we talked about what we needed to improve on. Everyone took those things to heart and we've gotten better.
Haraway added 12 points and five rebounds and Beaugard scored 11 points with four rebounds and three assists.
The Eagles held SVSU leading scorer Myles Belyeu to just six points in the second half after he went for 12 in the first half.
"He's a great player, he was getting some buckets in the first half," said Thompson, who drew Belyeu on the defensive end. "In the second half I tried to be a little more physical with him and not let him get to his spots as easily. Fortunately, he missed some shots and we got the rebounds."
The Eagles held the Cardinals to 34 percent (22-for-64) shooting, including a 19 percent (5-for-26) from 3-point range. Ashland also held down the boards, 46-32.
AU will continue its four-game homestand on Thursday (Jan. 30) against No. 13 Ferris State at 7:30 p.m.
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