Men's Basketball Earns Dramatic 73-72 Win Over Ashland

ASHLAND, OHIO – The Northwood University men's basketball team earned a dramatic 73-72 win at Ashland Friday night (January 2).

Northwood improves 7-4 overall, 3-2 in the GLIAC. Ashland falls to 8-3 overall, 2-3 in the GLIAC.

The opening half featured big runs by both teams. After Ashland scored the opening four points of the game, Northwood posted a 17-2 run to open up an early 17-6 lead. The Eagles responded with a 14-5 run of their own to cut the Northwood lead down to 22-20. The Timberwolves went back on top by 10 at 35-25 thanks to a 9-0 run, only to see AU finish the half with a 9-0 run themselves to send the game to the break with NU leading 35-34. Northwood finished the opening half shooting 51.9 percent from the floor (14-27), while Ashland shot 46.2 percent (12-26).

In the second half, the game was extremely close throughout. The biggest lead either team had after the break was five points. Northwood led 70-66 with less than two minutes to go, but Ashland responded with a 3-pointer on the next possession to make the score 70-69. That set up a while final minute of play. After a NU miss, Ashland connected on two free throws to go up 71-70. Northwood then turned it over with 18 seconds remaining, giving the ball back to the Eagles. But junior guard Jermaine Myers (Ajax, Ontario/Fordham U.) got a steal after the ball was inbounded and was fouled.  He went 1-2 from the line, tying the game up at 71. The Eagles then drew a foul and went 1-2 from the line themselves, going up 72-71 with 5.9 seconds remaining. That is when junior point guard Maurice Jones (Saginaw, Mich./Arthur Hill/USC) grabbed the rebound off the missed free throw and went the length of the court. He calmly knocked down a 14-foot jumper as time the buzzer went off, giving Northwood the win.

Both teams shot above 50 percent from the floor for the game – NU finished at 51.1 percent (24-47) while Ashland ended up at 52.0 percent (26-50). Both teams went 8-19 from 3-point range (42.1 percent). Northwood went 17-23 from the foul line (73.9 percent) compared to Ashland at 70.6 percent (12-17).

Three Timberwolves finished in double figures, led by Dylan Langkabel (Morristown, Ind.) with 19. Myers finished with 16 points, all of which he scored in the second half. Will Bowles (East Detroit, Mich./Southlake) had 14 points and nine rebounds. Jones ended up with eight points and five assists.

Northwood will travel to Lake Erie Sunday (January 4). That game will begin at 3 p.m.