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Findlay Races Past
Eagles Men, 92-78 |
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The University of Findlay built a new indoor track a couple of years ago. It’s right next door to Croy Gymnasium where the basketball teams plays. The Ashland University Eagles showed up on Saturday (Feb. 8) at Croy Gymnasium. By the time the afternoon was over, it felt like they were next door running laps. The Oilers used speed and quickness to pull away from the Eagles, 92-78. The win puts Findlay at 17-4, 10-3 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. With four regular season games remaining, the Oilers are well on their way to the South Division championship. Ashland is 15-7, 7-6 in GLIAC play. AU is fourth in the GLIAC South. Wayne State (8-6) and Gannon (8-6) are a half game ahead of the Eagles. The first two teams in the division host first-round GLIAC playoff games. The Eagles’ last lead in the game came with 14:26 to play in the first half. A free throw by senior guard Angelo Edwards gave AU a 16-15 edge. The home team went on a 17-6 spurt over the next 8:22 to go in front, 32-22 with 6:04 left in the first half. At halftime the Oilers were in front, 47-30. Findlay used its deadly speed in the open court and down inside, driving hard to the block. At halftime, forwards Marwan Gaines, Frank Phillips and Brath Rethman each had 10 points. Phillips finished with a game-high 19 points and Gaines posted a career-best 18 points. Rethman had 15 points. Guards Tyson McLaughlin and Dustin Pfeifer joined the scoring parade with 14 points each. McLaughlin was five-for-five from the field, four-for-four from three-point range. The Oilers made 62.3 percent of their shots (33-53) from the floor. They became more aggressive as the game went on, in part, because AU center Mike Campbell was absent for much of the contest. Campbell played 12 minutes due to foul trouble. He had four points and four rebounds. He came into the game as the GLIAC leader in blocked shots and was third in rebounding. Senior forward Justin Larrick and senior guard Isaac Kincaid led the Eagles with 15 points apiece. Freshman guard Chris Steens came off the bench to fire in 14 points. Edwards had 13 points and a team-high six rebounds. The Eagles could get no closer than 12 points in the second half. The last time AU was that close was with 10:17 to play. Then Rethman buried a three off a feed from guard Charles Warren and Gaines dropped in a pair of layups. With 8:51 remaining, Findlay was in front by 17 points, 75-58. The Eagles play their final two regular season home games this coming week. Hillsdale will visit Kates Gymansium on Thursday (Feb. 13) and Wayne State will be in town on Saturday (Feb. 15). |