Mountaineers Snap Eagles Streak

WILMORE, Ky. – Eleven lead changes and four ties finally fell the way of Berea on Tuesday night as the Mountaineers escaped the Luce Center with a 73-71 win over Asbury.  The loss snaps the Eagles’ three game winning streak.

Asbury (10-13, 4-5 KIAC) was led by Dakotah Euton’s 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting including four-of-eight from beyond the three-point line.  The sophomore pulled down a team-high seven rebounds.  Austin Flannery scored 17 points despite making only five-of-13 field goal attempts.  Flannery hit three threes and also made four-of-five from the free throw line.  Brock Hurtle scored 14 points off the bench, hitting four threes.

The Eagles built a seven point lead at 59-52 with 9:15 remaining but Berea would chip away and eventually tie it at 59-59.  The two teams would trade the lead four times and tie the score twice before the Mountaineers (9-16, 4-6 KIAC) took control for good at 67-65 with just over three minutes remaining. 

Asbury would have their last good look with two seconds left but Marquel Johnson’s jumper would miss and Berea secured the rebound.  Kyle Bair’s 90-foot heave as time expired missed left.

The big difference in the game came on the glass and in the paint.  Berea dominated the rebounding battle, 43-28.  The Mountaineers grabbed 18 offensive boards and turned those into 18 second-chance points.  Berea scored 44 of their 73 points in the paint.  Asbury had no second-chance points and only 10 points in the paint.

The Eagles still sit in fourth place in the KIAC, a 1/2 game ahead of Berea and Alice Lloyd.  The Eagles will travel to Cincinnati Christian on Saturday for a 7 p.m. tip.