ASHLAND, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican men's basketball team fell short to Ashland on Thursday evening by the score of 85-69 in Kates Gymnasium.

Both teams shot the ball well to open the game at Ashland. ODU (4-13; 2-11 GLIAC) connected on 62.5 percent from the floor over the first five minutes while clinging to a slim 13-12 lead at the under-15 media timeout.

By the second media timeout, the Eagles(7-10; 4-9 GLIAC) had taken a 22-19 lead, but a pair of free throws by sophomore Trent Weaver (Columbus, Ohio) cut the lead down to one, 22-21. In his first start of the season, freshman Reece Dils (Saline, Mich.) gave the Panthers the lead once again, 23-22.

With the Panthers trailing 27-25 and 6:12 on the game clock, the Eagles used a quick 9-2 run to take a 36-27 lead with 3:58 remaining to play in the opening frame.  

Ashland took a double-digit lead at 41-30 with a minute and a half to play. Sophomore Mark Minch's (West Chester, Ohio) basket cut the lead back to nine, 41-32, which would stay until the half.

Minch led the Panthers with 10 points in the first half as ODU shot 38.7 percent from the floor (12-of-31) and 30.8 percent from long range (4-of-13). Ashland out-rebounding ODU 16-12, and tied the Eagles in turnovers with eight.

Coming out of the intermission, the Eagles used a 15-9 run over the course of the first five minutes to take a 56-41 lead. Ashland's lead would grow to 66-49 with just under 10 to play.

ODU would chip away at the Eagles lead, cutting the deficit down to 12, 77-65 with 4:20 to play in the half, but would not be able to put a big run together, as the Panthers would struggle from the field in the second half, ending their night in Ashland with a 85-69 loss.

Nelson paced the Panthers offensively with 14 points, and four assists, while Weaver added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists. Minch ended the night with 10 points, while junior Jesse Ward (North Pole, Alaska) chipped in eight points and junior D.J. Decker (East Tawas, Mich.) added seven off the bench.

The Panthers will travel to Lake Erie College on Saturday to battle the Storm in a 3 p.m. contest.

Contact: Sarah Twiggs
twiggss@ohiodominican.edu