ASHLAND – After suffering through a two-game losing streak last week, five days rest was just what the doctor ordered for the Ashland University men’s basketball team.
The well-rested squad shot 60 percent from the floor and led almost the whole way en route to a 93-73 win over Lake Erie Thursday night in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest in Kates Gymnasium.
“Our guys earned it. They did a good job,” coach John Ellenwood said. “In the first half, we did a great job just imposing our will. But I think right now, we have to focus on getting better on every possession.”
After opening the contest in a 7-7 tie with 16:18 left in the first half, the Eagles (15-8, 10-7) went on a 45-20 run to end the half with a 52-27 lead.
Perhaps inspired by their female counterparts who hit a record 17 3-pointers in the opening game Thursday night, the AU men knocked down 10-of-13 3-pointers in the first half and hit a total of 15 for the game, the most since the team hit 16 on Jan. 26, 2008.
“We were just unselfish and we took smart, good threes,” senior guard Adrian Cook said.
In the second half, the Eagles opened a 30-point lead and Lake Erie (4-21, 3-14) was never able to narrow the gap to less than 20.
Senior guard Adrian Cook moved to within 22 points of becoming the 26th player in program history to reach the 1,000-point mark. He scored 23 points – including 18 in the second half – and dropped off seven assists.
“It feels good,” Cook said. “In the second half, the coaches wanted me to be aggressive. My teammates wanted me to be aggressive. I was really efficient, so I’m really happy with that as well”
Ben Haraway posted 15 points and five assists and freshman center Drew Noble, in his first collegiate start, added 13 points and nine boards.
“Drew does a great job. He’s kind of like a vacuum, just sucking in those rebounds,” Ellenwood said.
Sophomore Nick Bapst came off the bench to chip in 14 points while hitting 4-of-6 from downtown.
Ashland took good care of the ball, dishing 22 assists and committing just 7 turnovers.
“That’s who we are. That’s our identity this year is sharing the ball,” Ellenwood said.
Junior center Teddy Metzen missed the game due to illness.
With three games remaining, Ashland is in a three-way tie for fifth in the overall GLIAC standings, a game behind Lake Superior and Michigan Tech for a home GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal on Feb. 28.
“We’re not playing our best basketball right now,” Ellenwood said. “We’ve got to get to tournament basketball level right now.”
“We feel like we can beat anybody but we know we’ve got to play better on both ends,” Cook said.
Coverage of Ashland University Eagles athletics is produced in partnership with OhioHealth, the official sports medicine provider for Ashland University and dozens of high schools and universities throughout Ohio.
