Finishing the non-conference portion of its 2021-22 regular-season slate, Ashland University's men's basketball team ran through and around visiting Villa Maria College on Saturday (Jan. 29) afternoon, 81-48, at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles' fifth consecutive win puts them at 13-6, while the Vikings are 8-8.
"I liked the fact that everybody got playing time today," said Ashland head coach
John Ellenwood. "I liked the way we shared the ball. Guys were really playing for each other and sacrificing for each other."
In all, 20 Eagles saw playing time on Saturday afternoon, and 12 AU players scored. No Eagle played more than 20 minutes.
"For us to get some rest…it's good for our guys," Ellenwood said. "I thought it was a good game to really get us clicking a little bit better, a little bit more confident going into this home stretch."
WHAT HAPPENED
- The outcome of the game never was in doubt, with the Eagles going out to a 12-2 lead before the first media timeout. That lead was stretched to 20-2 with 11:49 left in the first half, ending a 14-0 run.
- By halftime, Ashland's advantage was 41-16. Twelve Eagles played and 10 scored in the first 20 minutes, as they shot 56.3 percent and scored 18 points off a dozen Villa Maria turnovers.
- The Eagles' largest lead of the contest was 42 points at 64-22 outside of the 12-minute mark of the second half.
THE WRAP-UP
- Sophomore guard Tre Baumgardner paced all scorers on Saturday with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, and added four assists and two steals.
- "A game like this, it could have been anybody. You've just got to hit your shots," Baumgardner said. "We were just sharing the ball, having fun."
- Senior guard Bo Furcron also ended with double-digit points, finishing with 10 to go with four rebounds, three assists and two steals.
- Ashland made 56.7 percent from the field in the victory (23 assists on 34 made baskets), and kept the Vikings to 34.0 percent. The Eagles turned 16 Villa Maria turnovers into 28 points.
- "You have good shots. You can get those pretty much anytime," said Ellenwood. "(And) better shots, which are basically one more pass, but it's the best shots are what you're looking for. It makes you look good if you can make the right play, not just score the basketball all the time."
UP NEXT
Ashland will go back to Great Midwest Athletic Conference play on Wednesday (Feb. 2) at 6 p.m. at Tiffin.
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