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Lynn University
Hands Eagles, 84-82, Setback in Men's Basketball |
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By Joe Monaco, AU Sports Information Lynn’s Justin Wingard scored a game-high 28 points and converted on 14-14 free throws to lead the Knights to an 84-82 win over Ashland in the first round of the Hillmyer-Tremont Tip-Off Classic at Florida Gulf Coast University on Friday (Nov 21). The Knights jumped out to a 20-point lead in the first half, but AU was able to cut that margin down to eight points, 39-31, at halftime. The Eagles ended the first half on a 14-2 run. In the second half, Ashland continued its roll as the Eagles streaked out to a 10-3 run to tie the game at 43. From there the game remained close with neither team able to get more than a two-point lead as the score was tied on five occasions. With under a minute left in the game, Lynn held an 81-77 lead when sophomore center Justin Brown (Columbus, OH/West Liberty State) hit a jumper in the paint to cut the Knights’ lead to two points. Brown finished the game a perfect 4-4 from the floor and ended with eight points and three rebounds. Freshman Chris Newell (Oak Park, IL/River Forest), who had 14 points in the game, nailed a huge three-pointer to cut Lynn’s lead down to one point, 83-82, with seven seconds remaining. The Eagles were forced to foul on the ensuing possession and Lynn’s Cedric Bennett converted one of two free throws to up the lead to 84-82. AU attempted to get one last desperation shot off, but Kevin Shorter’s (Clinton Township/Owens C.C.) jumper came after the buzzer had already sounded. “We never want to accept losing,” said head coach Roger Lyons. “We never gave up and played a great second half. We competed against a quality basketball team who could’ve blown the game open, but we were able to cut the lead to one point at the end of the game. We thought that our game plan was solid.” Junior guard Michael Fowler (Aurora, IL/Lincoln Junior College) led Ashland with 18 points and added five rebounds. Freshman Vahn Knight (Euclid, OH/St. Benedictine) finished with 14 points while Shorter had 11 points and six rebounds. Ashland native Greg Emmons ended the game in double figures with 10 points and six rebounds. Akil Lewis was the only other Knight to reach double figures as he scored 21 in the game, including five three-pointers. For the first time since the 1992-93 season, Ashland has opened the season with an 0-2 record. The Eagles will play Puerto Rico – Rio Piedras, who lost to Florida Gulf Coast 119-81, on Saturday (Nov. 22) with game time set for 4 p.m. Lynn improved to 1-1 on the year. |