A decisive road win against an NCAA Division I opponent in an exhibition game on Saturday (Oct. 30) night certainly will not do anything to tamp down expectations for Ashland University's men's basketball team.
The Eagles traveled to Valparaiso, Ind., on Saturday to play the Beacons, and came away with an 87-78 victory which featured red-hot shooting and impressive defense.
"Our guys played a very good game for this time of year," said Ashland head coach
John Ellenwood. "We took care of the basketball for the most part. It's good to get that pressure in a hostile environment this early in the season.
"There's still stuff to learn from this game."
Ashland's biggest lead of the night was 20 points at 80-60 with 6:45 remaining in the game.
The Eagles are coming off a 2020-21 season in which they were 15-9, won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, and won their first NCAA Division II postseason game in 30 years.
Valpo was 10-18 a season ago.
WHAT HAPPENED
- The Eagles ended the night hitting 61.1 percent (33-for-54) from the field and 61.9 percent (13-for-21) from 3-point range. All five starters scored in double figures – sophomore guard Hunter Shedenhelm (16 points), senior forward Aaron Thompson (14), senior forward Derek Koch (14), senior guard Bo Furcron (13) and junior guard Brandon Haraway (12).
- "I thought Hunter should have gotten Freshman of the Year in our conference (last season). I'll take Hunter over any freshman in the conference last year," Ellenwood said. "He played extremely well tonight."
- Thompson paced Ashland in the victory with six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
- "Just another day for Aaron Thompson," Ellenwood said. "He's one of the toughest guys you'll ever see. It's a blessing to have him in an Ashland uniform."
- The Eagles turned the ball over just eight times on Saturday night, while dishing out 15 assists.
- Ashland also kept the Beacons to 47.5-percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Valpo sophomore guard Sheldon Williams led all scorers with 32 points.
UP NEXT
Ashland will open the 2021-22 season on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. vs. Wayne State at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
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