ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland tipped in a missed shot with 2.8 seconds left and escaped with a 77-76 win over Ohio Dominican's men's basketball team in GLIAC play on Thursday.

The Panthers (8-16, 6-13 GLIAC) had rallied from an 11 point deficit in the game's final eight minutes and led 75-71 with 52.5 seconds to play. Ashland answered with a three-point play, and after ODU made one of two free throws to make it 76-74, the Eagles drew a foul with 12 seconds to play.

Ashland (18-8, 12-8 GLIAC) made the first free throw but missed the second, and the scramble for the loose ball led to several shot attempts around the rim for Ashland, the last of which was tipped in to give the Eagles the lead.

ODU threw away the ensuing inbounds pass and was forced to foul with 1.4 seconds to play. Ashland missed both free throws but a 75 foot desperation heave at the buzzer came up shy by ODU.

Freshman guard Ronnie Williams (Columbus, Ohio) scored a career high 25 points, setting a personal best with seven made three-pointers. Classmate Mike DeLeon (Powell, Ohio) grabbed a career-best 14 rebounds and junior Chad Nelson (Columbus, Ohio) scored 13 points to also pace the Panthers.

Ashland started the second half on a 16-6 run and ODU found itself behind 63-52 with 7:51 left. Senior Jesse Ward (North Pole, Ak.) hit a three to cut it to 67-60, and Williams hit a pair of triples to cut it to 69-67 with 3:45 to play.

Freshman guard Shemar Waugh (Columbus, Ohio) made a spinning layup to tie it at 69, and a stepback three by Williams gave the Panthers their first lead of the second half at 74-71 with just over two minutes left.

Nelson then forced a turnover in front of the Ashland bench, and ODU grabbed an offensive rebound, ran some clock, and Waugh drew a foul with 52.5 seconds left, sinking a free throw to make it 75-71 with 52.5 seconds to play.

Unfortunately, Ashland would score six of the final seven points to escape with the win.

Junior forward Trent Weaver (Columbus, Ohio) scored 12 points to go along with seven rebounds and Ward came off the bench to score 10 points, along with five boards.

The Panthers made a season-high 12 three-pointers and shot 44.6 percent from the field. Ashland countered with 46.7 percent shooting and outscored ODU 44-22 in the paint. The Eagles also had 13 offensive rebounds, leading to 21 second chance points.

Ashland hit four three-pointers before the first media timeout to take a 16-9 lead, but the Panthers responded. Williams sank a three and junior Jordan Cowgill (Worthington, Ohio) hit two free throws to cut it to 18-17 with 12 minutes left, and Ward buried a three from the right wing to tie at 20.

Williams' third triple of the half gave ODU its first lead at 25-24 with just over seven minutes left, and the game stayed within four points for the rest of the half as Ashland took a 34-33 lead into the locker room.

Contact: Tyler Jester
jestert@ohiodominican.edu