NORTH CANTON, Ohio – Finishing the calendar year with a game to remain tied for first place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference standings, Ashland University's men's basketball team lost a 67-63 decision at Walsh on Friday (Dec. 31) afternoon.
The Eagles are 6-5 overall and 3-2 in the league, while the Cavaliers are 8-3, 4-1.
"We have tough kids, we recruit tough kids. That's what our program is all about," said Ashland assistant coach
Brook Turson. "Didn't think we played our best today, and that's the tough part about the game. I think if we played our best, we get the outcome we want."
WHAT HAPPENED
- Ashland scored the game's first six points, then Walsh followed up with nine in a row to force an Eagle timeout. The Cavalier run eventually ended at 18-0, and the advantage went to 25-10.
- After that, senior forward Aaron Thompson decided to take matters into his own hands. Thompson scored 11 points in playing every minute in the first half, as the Eagles went on a 21-9 run to end it and go into the locker room down just three points at 34-31.
- Walsh came out and scored the first four points of the second half, and the Cavaliers kept the Eagles at a short distance until senior forward Derek Koch's long-distance 3-point field goal cut the AU deficit to one point at 44-43.
- With 11:07 to play, junior guard Ethan Conley's triple put the Eagles back on top at 46-44, but Walsh countered with six straight points. Trailing 56-51 with six minutes to go, Thompson (layup) and sophomore guard Tre Baumgardner (3-pointer) combined to knot the score at 56.
- At the 4:21 mark, another Conley trey lifted Ashland to a 59-56 lead, then Walsh took a 60-59 lead with 1:45 to play, then 62-59 with 63 ticks remaining.
- A Thompson layup with 41 seconds left cut the deficit to a single point at 62-61, but an old-fashioned 3-point play with 17.3 seconds left put Walsh ahead 65-61.
- Sophomore guard Hunter Shedenhelm was fouled shooting a 3 with 6.9 seconds left, and made 2-of-3 to make it a 65-63 game. The Cavaliers made two charity tosses to provide the final margin of victory.
THE WRAP-UP
- Thompson stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals, while senior guard Bo Furcron joined Thompson in double-digit scoring with 11 points.
- "Aaron's a warrior. He's going to give you everything he's got," Turson said. "He's really, really good. I love that kid."
- Ashland connected on 47.1 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from beyond the arc, while Walsh hit 47.2 percent from the floor.
UP NEXT
Ashland's men will start the new year with a home game at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium on Thursday (Jan. 6) at 7:30 p.m. vs. Trevecca Nazarene.
AU
MBKB/DS
