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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
In the second half, the Eagles' largest lead was 26 points, and the Sailfish never got closer than eight points.
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.
