ASHLAND – Trailing 64-61 with 7:34 left in the game, the Ashland University men’s basketball team needed someone to step up. And then, something happened.
“You know what happened? Marsalis Hamilton happened,” said Ashland University coach John Ellenwood. “He was a great player for us tonight.”
Hamilton scored 9 points down the stretch and 17 of his 21 points in the second half as the Eagles held off the Chargers for a 86-76 victory.
Four other Eagles scored in double figures, giving Ashland a well-balanced offensive attack.
“Our guys finally played team basketball, and they got the stops and they found a way, and I think Marsalis was a big reason for that today,” Ellenwood said.
Adrian Cook scored 16 and Boo Osborne knocked down two 3-pointers on the road to 13 points. Phil Frentsos added 12 and Ben Haraway chipped in with 10.
Ashland built a 38-32 first half lead behind 61 percent shooting and 9 points by Frentsos. In the first 10 minutes of the second half, Hillsdale hit six of seven 3-pointers and took a 60-55 lead.
“That team was hot. They’re healthy and they’re very confident. And their backs were against the wall. They’re right behind us in the league. This is just another day in the GLIAC,” Ellenwood said.
Hamilton came into the game averaging just 6.9 points per game but the junior was confident that he could take the game on his shoulders when it was needed.
“(It is) just my coaches, my teammates, everybody trusting in me. I trust myself, I’m a confident player. Just find the mismatch and make a play,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton, who tied a career high with 21 points, hopes this game will get him back on track for the remainder of the season.
“This a big jump off the diving board. The staff’s got trust in me, my teammates have trust in me. It’s really about being consistent, about being productive,” Hamilton said.
The Eagles shot a season-high 63 percent from the field and was 6-of-12 from behind the 3-point line. Continuing their hot shooting from the charity stripe, Ashland shot 22-of-24 from the free throw line.
The Eagles completed their five-game homestand with a 4-1 record, putting them back in the race for a GLIAC title. Ashland is 10-6 overall and 5-5 in the GLIAC, putting them in a tie for third place in the GLIAC South, 1 ½ games behind Findlay and a half-game behind second-place Walsh.
“We’ve just got to keep getting better. We can’t rest on our laurels in these games. We have to keep moving forward,” Ellenwood said.
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