When a team loses a handful of players in the offseason and replaces them with underclassmen and transfers, teams can struggle, but the Ashland University men’s basketball team isn’t like other teams.

Since Dec. 1, 2022, the Eagles have not lost a contest, winning the last nine games they have competed in. Now over a month removed from that loss, on Jan. 12, 2023, the team almost met their match once again against the Lake Erie Storm.

The Storm, who have played just five home games this season, packed the arena with fans.

“I loved every bit of it! It brings back memories of Detroit basketball environments and those bring the best out in me,” said freshman guard Simon Wheeler. “I think it brought out the best of our team and gave us a little more fight while down.”

Right from the tipoff, tensions started to rise as Storm guard Jordan Burton and Wheeler got physical. Burton gave Wheeler a few shoulder pushes and Wheeler rebounded with a light push of his own, setting the stage for a competitive contest.

In the first half of play, the fans were on the backs of the Eagles on each trip to the free throw line as they tried to play mind games against them. While at times it seemed to be getting to the players, composure was never lost.

The Eagles struggled from distance in the first half shooting 0-6, zero percent, from beyond the arc, but from the field, the team shot 35 percent. Senior guard Brandon Haraway finished the first half with just seven points but was banged up multiple times as the physicality between the two teams ramped up.

Although Wheeler led the team with 10 points, he went into halftime with three personal fouls which would hinder his playtime in the second half. The Eagles went into halftime down 33-27.

With Wheeler in foul trouble, his time on the court needed to be impactful, and when off the court, freshman guard Derrick James needed to step into a big spot.

While Wheeler played, he was a spark offensively putting up eight more points in the second half while dishing off two assists. In the 11th minute of the 2nd half, he picked up his fourth personal foul ultimately taking him out of the contest for five minutes.

In the time he spent out of the game, James stepped up and recorded a three-pointer and two field goals for a total of seven points. He also was a spark off the bench defensively snatching away two steals.

While the contest remained close, they relied on each individual on the team to help secure the win, and everyone contributed.

Down the stretch, sophomore Stefan Stanic recorded a block and two steals, and redshirt-freshman Maceo Williams dominated in the paint with six points. Haraway also came up huge with the go-ahead basket with seven seconds left to secure the win.

With the Eagles scoring with seven seconds left, the remaining seven seconds lasted 15 extra minutes. Through a five-second violation, a late out-of-bounds fall from Burton and countless official reviews, the Eagles prevailed, 69-65.

The win increases the Eagles win streak to nine games, and puts them at an 11-4 overall record on the season.

“This has been a great run but our job is not finished,” said James. “This is the hardest part of winning and everyone wants to be that team that ends the big win streak. For us, we have to stay locked in and continue what we started as a group.”

As a team, they shot 61 percent from the field in the second half and 33 percent from beyond the arc. The team has had top Division II performances defensively, and that showed as they forced 17 turnovers.

“That win felt like one of the best wins of the season for us,” said Wheeler. “Being down in the first half with our winning streak on the line and to finish the game with a win was amazing.”

The Eagles now look to take on the Walsh Cavaliers on the road this Saturday, Jan. 14, at 3 P.M.