Ashland University's men's basketball team rallied from a late 13-point deficit, but ultimately lost 90-85 to Lake Erie on Thursday (Jan. 22) night at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
The Eagles, who had won five of six coming in, now stand at 12-6 overall and 6-4 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The Storm improves to the same records.
Thursday night's contest was the first in 2025-26 in which Ashland lost by a margin of five points or less (5-1).
Lake Erie scored the game's first seven points, then extended that early lead to 12-3. When the Storm made 10 of their first 11 from the field, they took a 24-9 lead.
Halfway through the opening half, Lake Erie led, 30-11. By the break, the Storm were up 50-35 – after nearly shooting the lights out at 66.7 percent from the field and 9-of-13 from 3-point range.
The second half margin yo-yoed, and with 13:28 to play, both teams were in the bonus at the free-throw line. Ashland got the game back to 11 points at 76-65 outside of the eight-minute media timeout, but Lake Erie answered with its 13
th trey of the night.
Then…the Eagles began one of their patented late-game comebacks at home.
Trailing 81-68, AU scored seven points in a row to cut the deficit to six points with 5:49 remaining – forcing a Storm stoppage. The Eagles, however, couldn't get closer than three points away the rest of the way.
WRAPPING IT UP
- Ashland shot 53.4 percent from the field, and scored 30 points on 19 Storm turnovers.
- Senior forward Maceo Williams led the Eagles with 21 points, while freshman guard Beau Siegfried came off the bench for a career-high 13 points in a career-high-tying 25 minutes.
- Rounding out four players in double figures were redshirt freshman guard Max Dawson in his first collegiate start (11 points), and junior wing Cooper Davis (10 points).
- The game featured a total of 175 points, 54 free-throw attempts and 47 fouls.
COMING UP
Back on the road for another league contest at Hillsdale (8-10, 5-5) at 3 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 22).