Academic success can often be measured by a Rhodes Scholarship.
Basketball success can be evaluated by a Roads Scholarship.
Monday night (Feb. 3), a young AU men's basketball team took a big step forward in its education by gaining its first road win of the season, a 72-65 decision at Lake Erie.
The win gives the Eagles a season-high three-game winning streak. This is the first of three consecutive road tests for the Eagles. Later this week, AU plays at Walsh and Malone.
The Eagles are 9-10 and 6-9 in GLIAC play. Lake Erie is 9-12 and 6-9.
The Eagles received big games from veterans Will Evans and Brook Turson and newcomer Wendell Davis. Evans had 22 points and eight rebounds and Turson finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Davis hit 5-of-8 shots from the field and scored 12 points, all in the second half.
The Eagles outrebounded the Storm, 37-25. In the second half, AU led on the boards, 16-8 and didn't allow the Storm to get an offensive rebound. That +12 figure on the glass is AU's best margin since outrebounding Saginaw Valley State by 15 on Dec. 16. AU has outrebounded the opposition in three consecutive games.
Ashland also shot 56 percent (14-of-25) from the floor in the second half. The Eagles outscored the Storm, 42-33 after the intermission.
Ashland trailed, 46-39 with 14:01 to play in regulation. A 10-3 run by the Eagles tied the game, 49-49 with 12:23 to go.
With 10:34 left to play, Davis put together an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Eagles a 52-51 lead. That was the start of a 10-0 spurt that put AU ahead, 59-51 with 5:47 to play. Davis and forward Paul Honigford had five points apiece in that stretch. Honigford also had six rebounds in the game.
After that, Lake Erie could get no closer than five points the rest of the game.
Riley Thomas and Michael Morris had 14 points each for the Storm. Tom Parker had 10 points.
The Eagles will play at Walsh on Thursday (Feb. 6, 8 p.m.). Earlier this season at Kates Gymnasium, the Cavaliers defeated the Eagles, 73-64.
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