Ashland University's men's basketball team ended its five-game home stand on a high note on Wednesday (Jan. 31) night, topping Northwood, 89-64, at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
 
The Eagles move to 9-2 at home in 2023-24, and 14-6 overall and 8-5 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference – thanks to an eighth win in the last 11 meetings against the Timberwolves.
 
"I was proud of our guys. I thought there were some really good things out there," said Ashland head coach John Ellenwood. "I thought we got some bench projection, which was the biggest thing for us."
 
Northwood is 4-15, 1-10.
 
Sophomore point guard Simon Wheeler filled up the stat sheet on Wednesday night to the tune of 22 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
 
"We're taking a step closer off the court, which is helping us on the court," said Wheeler. "We're doing a good job of when adversity hits, coming together. We're coming together and finding solutions.
 
"I hadn't played well in the last few games. Just getting my confidence back. Today was the night that it came back to me."
 
Said Ellenwood, "Tonight was one of those nights where I can just sit there and be a fan, just kind of let him take over. I'm excited about him finishing the month off for us. I couldn't be happier."
 
The Eagles took an early 9-2 lead, and had a 15-9 advantage at the under-12 media timeout. Thanks in part to a thunderous driving dunk from sophomore forward Maceo Williams, driving from the 3-point line following an Eagle offensive rebound, Ashland clung to a 19-18 lead at the under-8 media stoppage.
 
And thanks to a 3-point barrage from redshirt freshman wing Cooper Davis, who hit three quick treys, the Eagles were able to extend their lead to game-best eight points at 30-22. Ashland kept extending its lead throughout the remainder of the first half, taking a 44-30 separation into the break.
 
Three Eagles already were in double-digit scoring in the game's first 20 minutes – Wheeler (16 points), Williams (12) and Davis (11).
 
Ashland's lead reached 20 points at 50-30 early in the second half, and that lead got as high as 30 points at 81-51.
 
POST-GAME NUGGETS

• Joining Wheeler in double-digit scoring in the win were Williams with 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting to go with 10 rebounds, and Davis with 14 points.
• "Cooper had some great minutes for us," Ellenwood noted.
• Ashland made 58.3 percent from the field, 58.8 percent from 3-point range and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line. The Eagles had 19 assists on 35 made field goals.
• "We took good threes," said Ellenwood. "We made free throws, which is good. Our guys are working hard to learn to pass a little bit more."
• Defensively, the Eagles kept the Timberwolves to 37.7 percent from the field and 21.1 percent from beyond the arc. Junior wing Stefan Stanic blocked a career-high five shots.

UP NEXT
A Great Midwest road game on Saturday (Feb. 3) at 1 p.m. at Lake Erie.