A late Wheeling run kept Ashland University's men's basketball team from winning the 2026-27 opener on Monday (Nov. 9) night, as the Cardinals topped the Eagles in West Virginia, 87-78.
 
Monday's game was the first meeting between the two programs in 42 years – the 1984-85 season-opener, also in Wheeling.
 
Ashland's biggest lead early was 16-7 following a 3-point field goal from sophomore guard Max Dawson. The Eagles led 29-25 prior to Wheeling scoring eight straight to go ahead late in the first half.
 
By the break, the Cardinals led 35-33 – despite AU getting a dozen points from Dawson and 10 points from redshirt freshman guard Christian Wilkins.
 
Ashland's second-half lead moved to eight points at 73-65 outside of the four-minute mark, but Wheeling went on an 18-2 run to take the lead and pull away late.
 
Sophomore guard Jason Henlon scored a career-high 19 points on 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, while adding four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
 
Dawson added 16 points and five rebounds, and Wilkins chipped in with a career-best 16 points on 6-of-10 from the field and 4-of-7 from 3-point range off the bench.
 
The Eagles dished out 17 assists on 31 made field goals.
 
After a combined 68 points in the first half, Ashland and Wheeling combined for 97 second-half points – the Eagles hitting 56.7 percent from the field in the game's second 20 minutes, and the Cardinals making 62.1 percent.
 
Ashland will play host a four-team tournament on Friday and Saturday (Nov. 13-14) at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium. The Eagles will face Maryville at 3 p.m. on Friday, then Wayne State at 3 p.m. on Saturday.