|
Eagles Win Third
Straight, Knock Off Malone, 93-67, in AU Tourney |
|
Like many folks at this time of year, the Ashland University keep stuffing themselves. Don’t expect AU head coach Roger Lyons to put his team on a diet any time soon. The Eagles (9-3) won their third consecutive game Wednesday (Dec. 28), running past Malone, 93-67 in the first round of the Ashland Holiday Inn Express Tournament, played at Kates Gymnasium. Ashland has advanced to the tourney title game all nine years the event has been held. AU has failed to win the championship just once. The Eagles haven’t lost since dropping a home game to Findlay on Dec. 10. The holidays have been very good to the Eagles, who have won by at least 11 points in each of their last three outings. Against Malone, senior center Justin Brown poured in 21 points and sophomore guard Brett Bartlett was 5-for-7 from three-point range with 16 points. Brown was 11-of-16 at the free throw line and Bartlett connected on his first five three-point attempts. AU also received 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds from junior forward Greg Emmons and 11 points and six boards from senior guard Javan Roberson. Ashland outrebounded the Pioneers (4-10), 55-34 and had a commanding, 36-12 edge in “Points in the Paint.” The Eagles also led in points off of turnovers, 31-14. The Eagles shot 49.2 percent (31-63) from the field. The home team grabbed control of the game from the outset and led, 47-30 at halftime. Malone was paced by Ben Carver’s 20 points. Jesse Schlabach had 11 points and Chris Miller added 10 points. In Wednesday night’s first game, Lincoln Memorial (2-8) advanced to the title game with a come-from-behind, 83-80 victory over Slippery Rock (1-9) The Railsplitters trailed at halftime, 43-36. They made up the deficit by shooting 57 percent (16-of-28) from the floor in the second half. The Railsplitters forced 24 turnovers. Johnny Martin had 16 points for Lincoln Memorial. Slippery Rock’s Erroll Robinson led all players in the game with 23 points. |