Fast Start Helps Eagles Men Stop Denison
January 3, 2004

The Ashland University Eagles didn’t put the Denison Big Red in a hole on Saturday (Jan. 3) at Kates Gymnasium. It’s more accurate to say that the Eagles dropped the visitors into a crater.

AU scored the game’s first 10 points and led, 10-0 with 14:13 to go in the first half. With 10:54 remaining in the first half Ashland was in front, 22-2. Denison is a team that relies on a slow-down, half-court game. That precision style isn’t tailored to overcome 20-point deficits.

There would be no comeback for the Big Red on this afternoon. Ashland won going away, 67-51. The win evens AU’s record at 7-7. Denison is 3-8.

Every time the Eagles had a chance to run, they did, and that led to a 22-0 edge in fastbreak points. Ashland coaxed the visitors into 22 turnovers and that played a large part in AU getting the running game up to full speed.

The bigger, stronger Eagles dominated the boards, 43-34. AU head coach Roger Lyons took full advantage of his deeper bench, using 11 players. The AU bench outscored the Denison reserve corps, 26-12.

Freshman guard Vahn Knight had a team-high 14 points to lead AU. Another freshman guard, Alex Jones, had 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Denison’s Danny Hodgkinson led all players in the game with 17 points.

This was Ashland’s final non-conference game of the year. The Eagles return to action with a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Northwood on Saturday, Jan. 10.