No. 5 Bulldogs Knock Off Eagles in Big Rapids

No. 5 Bulldogs Knock Off Eagles in Big Rapids

The Ashland University men's basketball team stayed with No. 5 Ferris State for a half on Saturday (Dec. 2) evening, but the Eagles dropped a 91-57 decision to the host Bulldogs in Big Rapids, Mich.

The Eagles (5-3, 0-2 GLIAC) started the game on an 8-5 run with all eight points coming from sophomore center Drew Noble, who hit a pair of 3-pointers and dropped in a layup. All three baskets were assisted by different players.

Noble scored 15 of his 16 points in the first half and shot 6-for-10 in the first 20 minutes.

Senior forward Wendell Davis sank a 3-pointer with 15:10 left in the first half to give the Eagles an 11-10 advantage, but that was the last time AU would hold the lead in a low-scoring first half. Ashland went into the break trailing, 36-28.

Davis's layup with 14:52 to play in the second half cut the deficit to 43-37, but the Bulldogs (10-0, 2-0 GLIAC) ran off the next nine points to push their lead to 52-37. Senior forward Marsalis Hamilton stopped the run with a couple free throws, but FSU's lead did not slip under 13 after that.

Davis led the Eagles with 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting. He also collected a team-high six rebounds and matched Noble with four assists. Hamilton scored eight points to go with five boards and three assists.

Davis passed Rob Wininger (1997) for ninth place on Ashland's all-time scoring list and now has 1,520 points in his AU career.

Ashland shot 41.5 percent (22-for-53) from the floor while Ferris hit at a 54 percent (34-63) clip.

The Eagles committed 20 turnovers in the game and the Bulldogs turned those into 25 points. AU forced FSU into just three miscues and none in the first half.

Cushingberry scored 22 points on 7-for-11 shooting to lead the Bulldogs. GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year Zach Hankins finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and four assists.

The Eagles will look to bounce back on Thursday (Dec. 7) when they play host to Wayne State at 7:30 p.m. at Kates Gymnasium. The Warriors (3-3, 2-0 GLIAC) won a pair of close games this weekend to Grand Valley State and Purdue Northwest.

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