It's the Ashland University men's basketball way – thrillers at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium, win or lose.
And on Friday (Nov. 10) night, it was a win, as the No. RV Eagles outlasted Grand Valley State, 62-61, in the season-opener for both teams.
"Our guys, they got to halftime, and it was like getting to that second round in a big fight," said Ashland head coach
John Ellenwood, whose 244
th career win is two away from tying Roger Lyons (246) for the most in Ashland men's basketball history. "We said, 'Hey, first five minutes.' And our guys came out in the first five minutes and got back in it. They clawed, they clawed, they clawed.
"I told our guys, win or lose, this game is going to reveal, and it did. I think it's going to help us, just to get crisper. The film is going to be the best thing we can see all year. We're just going to get better from that."
The Lakers led to begin Friday night's contest, but Ashland worked its way back to a 13-11 advantage. Grand Valley State regained the lead, however, and kept it for the remainder of the first half – taking a 34-24 lead into the locker room.
Ashland's offensive struggles resulted in a 25.0 field-goal percentage in the first 20 minutes.
Those struggles, however, ended to start the second half, as a 9-0 run put the Eagles within three points at 34-31. Ashland kept coming, but Grand Valley State continued to lead at 41-35 at the 13-minute mark. Halfway through the second half, the Laker lead was nine points at 48-39.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from sophomore forward
Maceo Williams and junior wing
Stefan Stanic, then a fast-break layup from sophomore point guard
Simon Wheeler, brought the Eagles back to a single point at 48-47. Then fifth-year guard
Brandon Haraway's driving layup gave AU the lead at 49-48 after 10 straight points.
The score was tied at 53 with 6:14 to go in regulation, then, at the last media timeout of the game at the 3:43 mark, the Lakers clung to a 59-58 lead. Grand Valley led 61-60 going into the last two minutes, and the score was the same with 43.8 ticks to go. The clock kept going down, then Haraway hit a deep jumper with 25 ticks to go.
GVSU called a timeout with 16.7 seconds to go to set up the last shot, then the Eagles countered with their own stoppage. Finally, Stanic blocked a shot with four seconds left, but the Lakers had the last shot, again – and that fell short, thanks to Stanic's defense.
"It feels great. It feels awesome, to be put in that situation. They trusted me, and it's awesome," Stanic said. "We've just got to get better at the little things – hands ready, cutting, passing, shooting. We have enough time. Just got to get better.
"We went into the locker room (at halftime), and we knew we were going to win it. No one thought we were going to lose."
"He's just blossomed into a great defender," Ellenwood said of Stanic. "And I'm just so proud of him."
POST-GAME NUGGETS
- Haraway ended with 18 points, including 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.
- "He's a competitor," Ellenwood said. "Brandon, at the end of the game, get the ball to a Haraway and just get out of the way."
- Williams had 15 points in the victory.
- Each team turned the ball over 15 times.
UP NEXT
Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. against Purdue Northwest at Cedarville.
