MIDLAND, Mich. - The Ashland University men's basketball team lost its second straight game in a 74-64 effort at Northwood on Saturday (Jan. 20).
The Eagles (14-5, 7-4 GLIAC) were off to their first 14-3 start since 1999-2000 before losing at Saginaw Valley State on Thursday (Jan. 18).
A layup from senior forward Marsalis Hamilton gave AU a 10-9 lead just 3:33 into the action, but Northwood (7-11, 4-7 GLIAC) went up 37 seconds later and never looked back.
The Timberwolves jumped out to a 33-20 advantage with 5:49 left in the first half. Over the next 2:10, the Eagles rallied for 12 straight points and went into halftime down 38-34.
Senior forward Wendell Davis laid one in at the 17:33 mark in the second half to make it 41-40 Northwood. After that, the Eagles went 8:01 before junior guard Ben Haraway's layup ended the team's stretch without making a field goal. At that point, the Wolves led, 53-43, essentially sealing a victory.
Over the past two games, the Eagles have netted just nine shots from beyond the arc, their lowest total over a two-game span this season. Haraway made three of AU's five against NU and led the Eagles with 19 points.
Hamilton dropped 15 points. That's the third straight game he's had at least 15, something he had only done once this season before that stretch.
Sophomore center Drew Noble had nine points and 10 rebounds, leaving him a point shy of his sixth double-double of the season. He leads the team with five.
Davis tacked on 14 points and six boards, the first time this season he's been held under 15 points in two straight games.
Despite the slide, the Eagles remain atop the GLIAC South Division standings, one game ahead of Wayne State.
The Eagles play host to Tiffin next Saturday (Jan. 27), beginning a stretch where Ashland will face conference opponents for a second time this season. AU beat the Dragons, 58-54, at their place on Dec. 16 for win No. 3 of a nine-game streak.
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