HUNTSVILLE, Al.--- The Asbury men's basketball team (10-2) took on NCAA Division II Alabama Huntsville (11-3) on their home court for a mid-season exhibition contest in Huntsville, Al. John Shoulders scored a season-high 19 points to lead Asbury on a 24-0 second half run, only falling to UAH 84-90. 

Senior John Shoulders' 19 points came on five made threes and four rebounds to go with. Ashton Owens, the sophomore Huntsville, Al. native made his return home count as he put in a season-high 14 points. Owens went 4-9 from distance agains the 11-3 Division II UAH Chargers.

Graduate Nick Fort and senior Dakota Walden both secured double-doubles, Fort going for 13 points and 17 boards while Walden scored 12 with 11 rebounds. 

Fort's 17 rebounds marks a season-high, one more than his 16 against Great Lakes Christian, giving him nine double-doubles in 13 contests. Walden now has two double-doubles for Asbury. Clayton Winter was the other Eagle to score double-digits with 10, also grabbing five rebounds.

Chaney Johnson, the 6'7" guard led UAH with 14 points and six rebounds. Johnson averages 16.9 per game for the Chargers.

UAH led points in the paint by scoring 38 compared to Asbury's 22. AU took the second chance points battle with 18 to UAH's four. Asbury made their second most threes in a game this season with 16. UAH followed close behind with 14 of their own from distance. 

UAH got off to a fast start with two consecutive threes that led to a 10-0 lead. Asbury settled in and began to battle back with a John Shoulders three and Clayton Winter jumper that brought them to 24-31 with 9:10 to go in the first.

The Chargers' offense picked up their speed in the second part of the first half as they scored 13 points in the final five minutes to head into half up 58-38.

The beginning of the second half went the way of UAH as AU struggled to get into an offensive groove in the first ten minutes. A Ben McNew three with 9:19 left in the game started the largest run of Asbury's entire season, a 24-0 swing that lasted over eight minutes without UAH scoring a point.

After Asbury's incredible run capped by a John Shoulders three they were within five (82-87) with 2:16 to go. UAH held Asbury the last two minutes to only two points and managed to escape with the 90-84 win on their home court.

AU outscored UAH 46-32 in the second half.

The exhibition game does not count on Asbury's record as they remain 10-2 on the season. 


* John Shoulders | 19 PTS (Season-High), 5 3PT, 4 REB
* Ashton Owens | 14 PTS (Career-High), 4-9 3PT
* Nick Fort | 13 PTS, 17 REB (Season-High), 5 AST, 9th Double-Double 
* Dakota Walden | 12 PTS, 11 REB, 2 AST, 2nd Double-Double
* Clayton Winter | 10 PTS, 5 REB, 4-6 FG


* Asbury made 16 threes (second most this season), UAH made 14
* AU went on a 24-0 run late in the second half 


"I was just super proud of the team and how we continued to compete even when we were down big in the 2nd half. To put together a 24-0 run against a team of that caliber says a lot about us. I'm excited to get right back to it Tuesday!"
John Shoulders | Senior Guard | Hart County, Ky.

"We appreciate Coach Shulman and his staff for a giving us an opportunity to test ourselves against one of the top NCAA D-II basketball programs in the country. They really challenged our guys today but our team responded and didn't give up. To outscore them in the 2nd half, and to keep them scoreless over a 9 minute period late in the 2nd half, that's something we can be really proud of."
Russell Abner | Associate Head Coach


Asbury will host Campbellsville-Harrodsburg on Tuesday night in the Luce Center at 7 pm. 


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