The 2022-23 home opener was a roaring success for Ashland University's new-look men's basketball team, as the Eagles topped Gannon on Tuesday (Nov. 15) night, 80-54, at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
Ashland is 1-2 so far this season, and the Golden Knights are 0-1. The Eagles have won four games in a row in the series.
"Some things are starting to come together," said Ashland head coach
John Ellenwood, "and winning helps that. I always look at the things we have to work at. We have a lot we need to get better at. Some of that can be solved this year, and some of that is down the road a couple years from now.
"I like how we played together. We're starting to learn how to play together."
WHAT HAPPENED
- Ashland began the game running and making baskets, and at the game's first media timeout, the Eagles led 11-4, with eight points in the paint early. With 7:33 left in the first half, at another media stoppage, AU led 24-13, and shot 10-of-18 from the field with nine fast-break points.
- Senior guard Brandon Haraway brought the crowd to a roar with a fast-break dunk late in the first half, which helped Ashland to a 41-20 halftime lead. Both sides of the floor were clicking for the Eagles, as they had a 20-15 rebounding advantage and scored 13 points off 15 Golden Knight turnovers. Freshman guard Simon Wheeler posted 15 points, three assists and four steals in the first 20 minutes.
- Ashland continued to keep Gannon at arm's length throughout the second half, taking a 30-point lead at 67-37 and going on to victory from there.
THE WRAP-UP
- Five Eagles scored in double figures Tuesday night, led by fifth-year forward James Manns, who broke out for 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting, all from 3-point range.
- "My team kept encouraging me and telling me it's going to come, and giving me the ball," Manns said.
- Wheeler had 15 points before leaving due to injury, and junior center Victor Searls recorded his first collegiate double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
- "It's good to finally contribute after two years," Searls said. "Sharing the ball is something…every practice we're trying to gel as a team and get better as a team."
- Sophomore forward Stefan Stanic and redshirt freshman forward Maceo Williams each ended with 11 points in the victory.
- Senior guard Brandon Haraway's eight points moved him into 23rd place on Ashland's all-time scoring list with 1,127 for his career.
- Ashland shot 49.1 percent from the field and was 20-for-23 from the free-throw line, and recorded 17 assists on 26 made field goals. The Eagles kept the Golden Knights to 31.3 percent from the floor and forced 17 turnovers, which resulted in 15 AU points.
UP NEXT
The first game of the Ferris State Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. vs. East-West.
