Eagles Upset Red Wolves
RICHMOND, Ind. – The Eagles overcame a 15 point halftime deficit in a 96-93 overtime upset of No. 17 and second-seeded Indiana East on Saturday in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament 1st Round. Asbury advances to the semi-finals on Monday to face Brescia at Berea College at 7:45.
Asbury (12-16) used a variety of defenses to stifle the Red Wolves in their third meeting of the season. Indiana East had won both prior meetings by 24 and by 21 just four days ago. The Eagles held the Red Wolves to 34 percent shooting in the second half and overtime, and 45 percent for the game. On Tuesday, Indiana East shot over 60 percent for the game.
The Eagles scored the first seven points of the second half and cut the lead down to four with just over 13 minutes remaining. Asbury continued to chip away before tying the game at 78-78 with 6:17 left. Austin Flannery’s three with 2:08 left in regulation tied the game at 85-85, no one would score for nearly the next four minutes of play.
Asbury led nearly throughout overtime, scoring first as Marquel Johnson’s basket gave the Eagles their first lead since 4-2. The lead grew to four before the Red Wolves tied the game at 93 with a three by Matt Trimnell. Flannery answered with a floater in the lane to give the Eagles the lead for good. He would seal the game with a free-throw and finished with 22 points, 15 in the second half.
Dakotah Euton scored a team-high and tied a career-high with 26 points. He scored 26 on Tuesday against the Red Wolves as well. He also added 11 rebounds, recording his 8th double-double of the season. Justin Jones also recorded a double-double, his fifth, with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Marquel Johnson added 18 points, 12 in the second half and hit 5-of-10 from three-point range.
Euton continues his hot stretch, averaging 21.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in eight February games.
The Eagles came into the game leading the NAIA II in three-pointers made per game at 10 and kept right on that average on Saturday, connecting on 10-of-23. The Red Wolves made 12-of-29. The major difference scoring wise came at the free-throw line where Asbury made 12-of-19 while Indiana East made five but only attempted six.
This is the second straight year the Eagles have defeated a ranked Indiana East squad and the second win over a ranked opponent this year, also defeating then No. 15 Indiana Southeast 78-75 on January 26.
Asbury heads to the KIAC semi-finals for the third time in Shouse’s four years. This is the second time Shouse has taken the Eagles to Indiana East in the KIAC Tournament and the second time Asbury has left victorious. Asbury defeated Indiana East 102-95 in the 2010 tournament. The Eagles were upset in the first round last year by Brescia at home. The semi-finals and finals will have live stats provided by Berea.
