Centre snaps Eagles streak

WILMORE, Ky. – Centre snapped Asbury’s five game winning streak with a 66-58 victory over the Eagles on Thursday night in the Luce Center.  Asbury shot only 37% for the game and made only one three-point attempt.

The Eagles came into the game ranked 11th in the NAIA DII in three-pointers made per game at over eight, but struggled to a 1-for-11 shooting performance against the Colonels defense.  Centre would shoot only 38% from the floor but made 9-of-24 from beyond the arc including five from Byron Ellis.  Ellis wouldn’t make another shot and finished with 15 points.

The Colonels were able to take away the things Asbury has excelled in so far this year, the three-point shot and Flip Crawford’s offensive rebounding.  Crawford, who ranks 4th in the NAIA DII in offensive boards per game at over 4, would pull down only one off the offensive glass on this night.  He would finish with 11 points and nine rebounds, just missing out on his fifth straight double-double. 

It was the other big man for the Eagles, Justin Jones, who would provide the second chance opportunities with six of his game-high 15 rebounds.  Jones would score six points as well.  Asbury would narrowly out rebound Centre 41-40 as the Colonels had two players record double-doubles.  Greg Ross led the Colonels (6-1) with 18 points and 10 rebounds and Alex Lloyd would grab 13 boards to go along with 10 points. 

Asbury (6-5) was led by Phillip Morrison’s 20 points as only six players would score.  The Eagles never seemed to get into a rhythm offensively and it showed with only six assists. 

The Eagles will head to Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. on Saturday to play the Bulldogs at 3:00 pm EST.  Asbury will head out to California for three games later in the month.