A 14 point win over a 2-13 team Wayne State team might not seem like an important victory for the AU Men’s basketball team.

But it might have been their most important of the season.

The AU men won without playing their “A” game. They squandered a 12-point half time lead and saw Wayne State tie the game with 12 minutes left to go. 

But they managed to come away with a win, pulling away from Wayne State thanks to a gritty, team effort and despite a sub standard offensive performance.

More importantly they improved to 13-5 overall and 7-5 in GLIAC play, two games clear in the race for the GLIAC south division title. 

In past years, winning without playing their best basketball, leading the GLIAC south by two games, and having a 13-5 record would have seemed like a dream.

But here the Eagles are. 

Head coach John Ellenwood said, “You aren’t going to play your best all the time, you can’t always get a full 40 minute performance. I think it was important for our guys to struggle a little bit and still get the victory.” 

Sophomore forward Wendell Davis led the way for the Eagles, pouring in 26 points and adding 10 rebounds. 

Ellenwood said, “There are games where Wendell can really get going and he did that against Wayne State. He did a great job rebounding for us and turned it on offensively down the stretch.” 

Ashland looks to expand its southern division lead when the Eagles travel to Ohio Dominican and Tiffin before hosting Lake Erie. 

Coach Ellenwood talked about preparing his team to take everyone’s best shot as the GLIAC south leader, “Right now we are on top. But when you go on the road in this league, throw the records out. All three teams we play need wins, and anytime you are facing a team with their season on the line you are going to get their desperate effort.” 

Ellenwood added, “We can’t focus on records. We just have to focus on the task at hand and focus on the execution.”

•Wendell Davis ranks fourth in the GLIAC in both points per game, 17.1 and rebounds per game, 7.6. 

•Ashland leads the GLIAC in opponent field goal percentage (38.2 %) and opponent three-point field goal percentage (29.9%) 

•While Wendell Davis is the only Eagle averaging over 10 points a game, 5 other players are averaging at least 7 points per game. 

•Sophomore guard Adrian Cook earned praise from his head coach for his play against Wayne State, “Against Wayne State we needed Adrian to step up and he did. Defensively he was great; offensively he controlled the tempo and found openings to create for himself and his teammates. When he plays like that he is a fun player to watch and a fun player to coach.” 

•Ashland’s plays a favorable schedule over the final 10 games of the season. The combined record of the teams remaining on the Eagles’ schedule is 60-109 overall and 33- 87 in GLIAC play. 

For more on AU basketball, check out ashlandcollegian.com for our other game stories.