WILMORE, Ky. — A determined late surge wasn't quite enough on Senior Day as Asbury (6-19, 4-8 CCS) fell 68–62 to LaGrange (14-12, 5-7 CCS) inside the Luce Center.
Prior to tipoff, the Eagles honored seniors Bryce Snellen, Turner Shouse, and Aaron Thompson for their dedication and contributions to TeamAU.
Asbury battled throughout a tightly contested matchup, staying within striking distance from start to finish.
The Eagles found early rhythm from beyond the arc and trailed by just six at halftime after an energetic opening 20 minutes. Defensive pressure and rebounding kept the game within reach as AU continued to chip away in the second half.
Freshman forward Lual Ayiei turned in a standout performance, posting a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 16 rebounds while anchoring the paint on both ends. Tyler Hall added 12 points, providing steady offensive production, while Indred Whitaker contributed 11 points, knocking down three triples to help stretch the defense.
Jonathan Combs and Cam Jones each chipped in eight points in a balanced team effort.
Asbury leaned on its perimeter shooting, finishing 12-for-36 from three-point range and 22-for-63 overall. The Eagles matched LaGrange on the glass with 34 rebounds and consistently fought for second-chance opportunities.
Midway through the final stretch, Asbury cut the deficit to a single possession following a defensive stop and transition finish, igniting the home crowd. However, LaGrange answered with a timely three-pointer and capitalized at the free-throw line in the closing minutes to secure the win. The Panthers shot 42 percent from the field and connected on eight three-pointers to maintain control down the stretch.
With the result, Asbury secures the No. 5 seed in the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament and will face LaGrange once again in the CCS Quarterfinals on Tuesday in LaGrange, Ga.
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Lual Ayiei | 12 PTS, 16 REB, 3 BLK
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Tyler Hall | 12 PTS (4-7 FG)
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Jonathan Combs | 8 PTS, 4 REB
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Indred Whitaker | 11 PTS (4-8 FG)
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Cam Jones 8 PTS (2-3 3PT)
No. 5 Asbury will travel to No. 4 LaGrange on Tuesday, Feb. 24 to take on the Panthers in the quarterfinals of the CCS Tournament, tip set for 7 PM.
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