The Ashland University men's basketball team held Grand Valley State to just 17 percent shooting in the first half, but the Lakers came back in the second half to beat the Eagles, 60-53, on Saturday (Feb. 2) afternoon at Kates Gymnasium.
The 7th-ranked Eagles (18-3, 10-3 GLIAC) did not allow a Grand Valley field goal until 10:10 remained in the first half as the visitors missed their first seven shots and had five turnovers before Shaquan McArthur's layup cut Ashland's lead to 9-6.
The margin was 11-10 in favor of Ashland with eight minutes left before the Eagles went on a 16-3 run to close the half and take a 27-13 lead into halftime. GVSU made just four field goals in the first half.
The Lakers (12-9, 6-7 GLIAC) recovered early in the second half by going on a 17-2 run over the first six-plus minutes to take a 30-29 lead.
Back-to-back buckets by redshirt-senior guard Ben Haraway and freshman guard Dylan Beaugard pushed Ashland back ahead, 34-30, but GVSU went on a 7-0 run after that to take a 37-34 lead.
A layup by senior guard Phil Frentsos off Beaugard's feed tied the game at 38, before the Lakers again went ahead 49-41 with six minutes left.
With under four minutes to play, Haraway sank a triple playing an inside-out game with junior center Drew Noble to cut the deficit to 51-48, and after a GVSU miss, Noble hit two free throws to make it a one-point affair.
Jake Van Tubbergen responded with a 3-pointer and Justin Greason hit a short jumper to push the Lakers up, 56-50. Sophomore forward Derek Koch responded with a clutch 3-pointer, and Ashland got a needed turnover to give itself a chance to tie the game, but Koch's next 3-point try missed and GVSU put the game away with free throws.
Haraway led the Eagles with 14 points and five rebounds, while redshirt-sophomore wing Aaron Thompson added 12 points and four boards. Noble chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
The Eagles shot just 33 percent (18-for-55) in the game, while the Lakers connected at a 37 percent (18-for-49) rate.
Hunter Hale led the Lakers with 19 points on 5-for-15 shooting. The Lakers out-rebounded Ashland, 40-34.
The Eagles will look to stop their brief two-game skid on Thursday (Feb. 7) at Ferris State.
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