On Saturday (Feb. 1) afternoon at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium, Ashland University's men's basketball team lost 66-61 to Thomas More.
The Eagles are 11-8 overall and 7-5 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, and the Saints are 13-8, 8-6.
Thomas More ran off nine straight points to start Saturday's contest, then led 15-6. Ashland started a 6-0 spurt to get to within three points at 15-12, then made the deficit three points again at 20-17.
The Saints responded with another run of their own, 8-3, to push their lead to 28-20 with 2:05 to go in the first half. At halftime, Ashland trailed 30-24 – staying with Thomas More despite shooting 34.5 percent from the field and 23.1 percent from 3-point range.
A triple from sophomore wing
Aden Gregory put the Eagles down by a single point at 33-32 outside of the 16-minute media timeout, then a second Gregory triple gave Ashland its first lead of the afternoon at 35-33.
Gregory's third trey of the second half made the Eagle lead 40-36, and a 3 from sophomore wing
Cooper Davis extended that advantage to 43-38 outside of the 12-minute mark.
The game was tied at 45 going into the last eight minutes of regulation, but senior guard
Gbolahan Adio gave AU another lead with a triple, and then he did it again at 51-50 with less than six minutes to go.
Adio's fourth trey put the Eagles on top, 55-52, but three Saints free throws swung the game back in their favor, 57-55.
The Eagles kept rallying, as layups from senior wing
Stefan Stanic and junior forward
Maceo Williams gave them a 59-57 advantage. The Saints took the lead back to 60-59, then Ashland got the ball back inside of the final minute on a Thomas More offensive foul.
A missed Eagle shot and ensuing AU foul led to a pair of Saints free throws, and both were successful. Ashland had one last chance to force overtime, but a turnover led to a Thomas More fast-break layup.
…AND THE REST OF THE STORY
- Adio had his best game as an Eagle, finishing with 18 points, two rebounds, two assists, three steals and three blocked shots.
- Williams ended with 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Gregory added 11 points and five helpers. Williams has 1,182 career points, now 20th on AU's all-time scoring list.
- The Eagles finished with 18 assists to 11 turnovers.
UP NEXT
Ashland will stay at home for its Morgan's Message game on Thursday (Feb. 6) at 6 p.m. vs. Cedarville (10-9, 5-7).
