Despite a career game from senior center
Victor Searls, the No. RV Ashland University men's basketball team lost on Thursday (Jan. 4) night at Great Midwest Athletic Conference-leading Trevecca Nazarene, 82-71.
The Eagles are 9-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference, while the Trojans are 9-3, 4-0.
Searls ended the night with 23 points (one away from his career high) and a game-high 15 rebounds (a new career best). Boasting the top field-goal percentage in NCAA Division II coming into the game, Searls made 8-of-10 shots from the field on Thursday night.
Sophomore point guard
Simon Wheeler scored seven early points, as the Eagles led 9-8 at the game's first media timeout. Neither team had an advantage greater than three points until the Trojans led 22-14 outside of the eight-minute mark.
Trevecca's largest first-half lead was 11 points at 31-20, but by the halftime break, the Eagles were down by just five points at 33-28. Ashland helped the Trojans by turning the ball over 14 times in the first half, leading to 21 Trevecca points.
The Eagles trailed 35-32 early in the second half, then a 9-2 Trevecca spurt led to a 10-point lead and an Ashland timeout. Searls had 17 points and 10 rebounds outside of the 13-minute mark of the second half, but AU continued to trail by eight at 50-42.
Inside of 10 minutes to play, the Trojans had their largest lead at 58-44 – but that was when the Eagles began to creep their way back into the game. Searls' 3-point field goal forced a Trevecca timeout, with Ashland trailing 60-53 thanks to a 9-2 spurt.
The Trojans, however, scored the game's next seven points to pull away.
POST-GAME NUGGETS
- Both Wheeler and sophomore forward Maceo Williams ended with 13 points.
- Ashland out-rebounded the Trojans, 42-35.
UP NEXT
Another conference road game on Saturday (Jan. 6) at 3:15 p.m. Eastern/2:15 p.m. Central at Kentucky Wesleyan (9-3, 4-1).
