Eagles Men Return Home with 2-0 Mark; Open in Kates Gymnasium Tuesday
November 25, 2002

The schedule says the Ashland University basketball team has played two games. The Eagles’ legs might say another thing.

Yes, AU is 2-0 after winning the championship of the Joe Reibel Tipoff Tournament at Bellarmine last Friday and Saturday (Nov. 22-23). But the Eagles got more than two games worth of experience over the weekend. In the championship game, the Eagles had to go to double overtime to come away with a 120-115 win over Bellarmine.

It will be interesting to see how the Eagles bounce back from that contest. Tuesday (Nov. 26), the Eagles have their home opener when Malone comes to town for a 7:30 p.m. contest. Fans who attend the home opener will receive a free AU schedule poster, courtesy of AmeriHost Inn and Sherwin Williams.

On Saturday (Nov. 30) the Eagles will host West Virginia Wesleyan at 7:30 p.m. This is the first part of an extended homestand. AU’s next five games are at home.

Malone provides an interesting challenge for head coach Roger Lyons and Company. Veteran coach Hal Smith’s Pioneers rely on precision execution. This year’s team is 4-1. Malone began the year by going 2-0 at the Geneva Tournament and followed that up with a 92-91 win over Cedarville. Last weekend at the Nyack (NY) Tournament, East Stroudsburg handed Malone its first loss, 75-71. Malone’s second game last weekend was a 94-68 triumph over the host school.

A year ago on the Pioneers’ home court, Ashland won, 84-80. The Eagles led that game at halftime, 49-36. Malone shot 48 percent in the second half and was in position to win in the game’s latter stages. AU won the battle of the boards, 44-38 and guard Isaac Kincaid ravaged the Pioneers for 27 points.

West Virginia Wesleyan is off to an 0-2 start, losing to California, PA (74-40) and Edinboro (65-55). A year ago, AU made the trip to the Mountain State and stopped the Bearcats, 94-77. Kincaid had 16 points in that game and point guard Angelo Edwards had a sterling all-around game with 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Kincaid and Edwards were at their best last weekend. Kincaid scored 56 points in the two games and nailed a three-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation to send the game to the first overtime. He was named to the all-tournament team. Edwards had 18 points in the title game and was cited as the tournament’s most valuable player. He drained a pair of free throws with a second left in the first overtime to send the game to a second extra session.

Kincaid is averaging 28.0 ppg., one of five players in double digits. Edwards is at 15.0 ppg., and freshman guard Chris Steens is averaging 11.5 ppg. Sophomore center Mike Campbell is averaging 11.5 ppg., and 11.0 rpg. Senior forward Justin Larrick is averaging 10.0 ppg., and 7.0 rpg.