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Freshman Backcourt
Leads Eagles Past Hillsdale |
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By this point in the basketball season, it can be argued that freshmen are no longer rookies. With 22 games behind them, the newcomers have more seasoning than what you’ll find on a well-stocked Food Channel shelf.. Thanks to freshmen guards Alex Jones and Vahn Knight, the Ashland University basketball team was able to send the Hillsdale Chargers home with a sour taste in their mouths. Jones, a point guard, scored 22 points and Knight kicked in another 17 points as Ashland (10-12/3-9 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) broke a two-game losing streak with a 76-69 win over Hillsdale (11-10/4-7) on Thursday (Feb. 5) at Kates Gymnasium. Ashland rolled up a 41-33 rebounding edge and that resulted in a 20-8 Ashland advantage in second-chance points. The game was tied seven times and the lead changed hands six times. Hillsdale’s leading scorer, senior forward Tom Farmer, fouled out of the game with 5:10 to play and that was big break for the Eagles. Farmer led all players in the game with 23 points. In the game prior to Thursday night’s game, he had a career-best 35 points at Gannon. Thursday’s game was even for much of the 40 minutes. Both AU and HC are rebuilding and counting on youngsters to learn on the run. On this night, the Eagles had a little more firepower at the end. Ashland made 14 of 20 free throw tries (70 percent) over the final 20 minutes and had a 23-17 rebounding advantage in the second half. AU sophomore forward Justin Brown had 11 rebounds to lead all players in the game. In addition to Jones and Knight, AU got 10 points, seven rebounds and a pair of rejections from junior forward Kevin Shorter. Hillsdale got 21 points from John Farr and 11 points off the bench from Ben Bixenmann. AU’s next game is Thursday, Feb. 12, at home against Mercyhurst. |