Ashland University's men's basketball team used a 65-point second half to even its early-season 2022-23 record at 2-2 following a 108-56 win over East-West on Tuesday (Nov. 22) night at the Ferris State Thanksgiving Classic.
It was the first meeting between the Eagles and the Phantoms, and Ashland's first game in a week.
WHAT HAPPENED
- The game was tied at 5 early, then the back-and-forth spurts were on. Ashland pulled away at the end of the first half, and took a 43-32 lead into the break. In the first 20 minutes, the Eagles shot 52.9 percent from the field, had 12 assists on 18 made field goals, and turned 10 East-West turnovers into 14 points.
- Ashland came out and effectively ended the game early in the second half, starting it by scoring the first 12 points and leading by 23. The Eagles hit 27-of-36 (75.0 percent) from the field in the second half, and ended with their most points in a game since posting 108 at home vs. Ohio-Chillicothe on Nov. 20, 2019.
THE WRAP-UP
- In just 22 minutes off the bench, redshirt freshman forward Maceo Williams scored a career-high 26 points on 11-of-12 shooting while adding eight rebounds.
- Also excelling inside was junior center Victor Searls, who finished with 18 points on 9-of-12 shooting and collected eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks.
- Sophomore wing Jaret Griffith scored a career-high 15 points off the bench, freshman point guard Derrick James added a career-high 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting and seven assists, and fifth-year forward James Manns added 10 points.
- In his first collegiate start, senior guard Luke Metzger finished with career-highs of six rebounds, eight assists and five steals.
- Ashland's field-goal percentage of 64.3 is its best in a game since the Ohio-Chillicothe game (64.4), and the Eagles' 26 assists are their highest total since 26 against Westminster at home on Dec. 29, 2018. AU also had a decided 47-29 rebounding advantage.
UP NEXT
Ashland will stay in Big Rapids, Mich., to take on the host Bulldogs (3-2) on Wednesday (Nov. 23) at 7 p.m.