Ashland University's men's basketball team is going into the Christmas/New Year's break on a high note following an 80-64 win vs. No. 23-ranked Palm Beach Atlantic on Saturday (Dec. 21) at the Saint Leo Holiday Classic.
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The Eagles, who snapped a modest three-game losing streak, conclude the first semester at 6-5, while the Sailfish are 10-2.
Saturday's victory was Ashland's men's first over a nationally-ranked team since Dec. 2, 2023 (82-72 at Walsh).
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Consecutive 3-point field goals from graduate forward
Javin Etzler put Ashland up 10-2 in the early going. A jumper from senior guard
Gbolahan Adio and back-to-back buckets by freshman forward
Jason Moore gave the Eagles a 20-6 advantage inside of the 13-minute mark.
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Sophomore wing
Cooper Davis' layup put AU ahead by 15 at 25-10 halfway through the first half, then sophomore wing
Aden Gregory's triple gave the Eagles a 20-point bulge at 32-12.
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The halftime spread was 48-24, and almost everything was clicking for the Eagles – a field-goal percentage of 60.0, 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, 13 assists on 18 baskets, and 12 forced turnovers. Five AU players scored at least seven points in the game's first 20 minutes.
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In the second half, the Eagles' largest lead was 26 points, and the Sailfish never got closer than eight points.
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A STRONG OFFENSIVE SHOWING…AND THE REST OF THE STORY
- Junior forward Maceo Williams continued his strong start to 2024-25, posting 25 points and eight rebounds, and making 6-of-9 from the field and a career-high 13-of-16 from the free-throw line. For Williams, it was his eighth 20-plus-point game of the season.
- Davis followed with 19 points, including 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.
- Ashland finished 22-of-26 (84.6 percent) from the foul line – the Eagles' most makes in a game since Feb. 3, 2024 at Lake Erie (25).
- The Eagles made 52.0 percent from the field, and dished out 18 assists on 26 baskets (junior point guard Jaron Crews with eight helpers).
- Ashland forced 19 PBA turnovers, turning those into 26 points.
- Saturday's game was the Eagles' 2,400th all-time (1310-1090 record).
UP NEXT
The start of the second semester on Jan. 2 at 6 p.m. vs. No. 19 Hillsdale (10-2) at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
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