WINONA LAKE, In.--- Despite taking a 12 point lead in the first half and making ten threes, No. 6 seed Asbury men's basketball (19-7) fell in the opening round of the NCCAA National Tournament in Winona Lake, In., on Wednesday afternoon to No. 3 seed Clinton College, 86-83. 

Asbury led the turnover battle, only handing the ball over six times compared to Clinton's 12. Clinton College (21-1) responded to this area with strong work in the paint, outscoring Asbury 40-22 around the rim.

The Golden Bears also made their fast breaks count, scoring 29 points off of fast breaks. Clinton's offense shot an impressive 50.7 percent from the field, 57.6 percent in the second half. 

Asbury forwards Nick Fort and Clayton Winter shared a team-high in points with 17 apiece. Fort grabbed ten rebounds for his 17th double-double of the yar and dished five assists. Winter gathered five boards of his own with three assists. 

John Shoulders, Caleb Wallis, and Ben McNew combined for eight threes for AU, Shoulders leading the way with 15 points. 

Clinton's Cameron Shannon scored a game-high 30 points on 10-18 shooting and went 8-8 from the line. Jeremiah Anderson followed Shannon for 22 points of his own, combining for 52 points between the two. 

From the 9:02 mark in the first half to 3:39 remaining in the half Asbury went on a 17-5 run, grabbing their largest lead of the game at 38-26. AU used threes from Ben McNew and John Shoulders to power the run. 

Clinton scored 11 points in the final three minutes of the first to cut their deficit to 37-41 heading into the break. 

The second half was a back-and-forth battle with four lead changes. Caleb Wallis made a jumper to tie the game at 67 with 8:37 to go before Clinton answered with a firm run. 

The Golden Bears went on an 8-0 run (75-67) that gave them a lead they didn't let up the rest of the game. 

Clinton will move on to the final four of the NCCAA National Tournament. Asbury's hopes of winning the National Tournament fall as they move to 16-7 on an incredible season, and will still compete in the consolation bracket of the NCCAA Tournament. 


* Nick Fort | 17 PTS, 10 REB (17th Double-Double), 5 AST 
* Clayton Winter | 17 PTS, 5 REB, 3 REB 
* John Shoulders | 15 PTS, 4 REB
* Caleb Wallis | 14 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST
* Ben McNew | 11 PTS, 3-4 3PT, 3 REB


* AU scored 13 points off turnovers and made 10 threes 
* Clinton scored 49 second half points


Asbury will now face Trinity International University on Thursday at noon in the consolation bracket of the NCCAA National Tournament. 


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