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Men's Basketball Win
at Mercyhurst Gives AU Tourney Berth |
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Child birth can be agonizing. In a different way, so can playoff berth. The Ashland University basketball team can attest to that. Entering Thursday’s (Feb. 20) Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Mercyhurst, the Eagles were in search of a berth in the league’s eight-team postseason tournament. A win would lock up a spot. If that didn’t happen the Eagles had to resort to deciphering a combination of possibilities that would befuddle an MIT graduate student. Getting a win at the ‘Hurst was no sure thing. The Eagles went to Erie, PA, with a three-game losing streak. But thanks to 20 points from senior guard Angelo Edwards, 11 points and 15 rebounds from sophomore center Mike Campbell, plus 15 points from senior guard Isaac Kincaid the Eagles escaped with a 74-73 overtime win. AU is 16-9, 8-8 in GLIAC play. Ashland has one regular season game remaining – a date at Gannon Saturday. The Eagles can’t host a first-round playoff game. It’s up in the air as to where they will play. Right now, AU is the seventh seed and that would mean a trip to GLIAC South Division leader Findlay. Edwards hit a layup with one second left in regulation to tie Thursday’s game at 68-68. Ashland gained the early lead in overtime as Kincaid hit two free throws. Then MC’s Torry Mitchell buried a trey and the ‘Hurst was in front, 71-70 with 4:18 left in the extra session. AU went back on top, 72-71 on a jumper by Edwards with 2:46 to go. A layup by forward Josh Helm with 1:17 to play put the home team ahead, 73-72. The Eagles went ahead to stay, 74-73 on a layup by Campbell with 14 ticks left. The Lakers got the game’s final shot, but couldn’t connect. The Eagles held a 54-45 edge on the glass, but turned the ball over 16 times compared to 12 for the Lakers. Ashland shot 38.9 percent (28-72) from the floor and Mercyhurst finished at 39.7 percent (31-78). Both teams had their struggles at the free throw line. Ashland shot 70.6 percent (12-17), while Mercyhurst made good on only six of 14 tries (42.9 percent). Senior swingman Tom Church added 14 points and nine rebounds for AU. Mercyhurst (12-14, 4-12) was paced by Helm’s 23 points. He also had eight rebounds. Scott Melle led the ‘Hurst on the boards with 11 rebounds. Point guard Justin Shouse had 18 points and six assists and Marcus Jankus came off the bench to score 11 points. Thursday’s win gives the Eagles a season sweep of the series. This was Ashland’s sixth overtime game of the year. AU is 4-2 in those games. |