Box Score The Asbury University Eagles and the Berea College Mountaineers finally met today. Each team played in the other's tournament, but did not meet. Today the two old KIAC rivals produced a battle of which the court's namesake, Coach Roland Wierwille would have been proud.
The Eagles came into the contest with a 16-5 record fresh off a buzzer beating victory; while the #2 ranked Mountaineers were coming off a 25 point drubbing of Kentucky Christian. The first half unfolded as back and forth battle, with each team trading baskets, impressive defensive plays and long range bombs.
Asbury started to pull away late in the first half, after a series of BC turnovers, going up nine points with 4:33 remaining on the clock. The Blue Crew would come back forcing several turnovers and converting those points to cut the lead down to four points as the teams went to the locker room 44-40.
The first five minutes of the second half was much like the first with each team trading punch after punch with neither team gaining an advantage. Asbury held on dearly to its halftime lead until Ethan Harris knocked down a 3-pointer to give Berea its first lead of the half 50-48.
The Eagles would take back the lead, until Daishon Robinson took a bounce pass from London Moore for a layup and a foul. He would convert the three point play giving the lead back to Berea. It wouldn't last as Asbury would again answer. The game changing breakthrough came from the smallest Mountaineer. Anthony Myrks aka "Smurf" started an epic three possession run that would make the difference. He drove the lane for a layup with 6:05 left on the clock. He then intercepted an Eagle pass and delivered the ball to Dominique Garmon for an easy layup. On the next BC possession, Myrks drove the lane and delivered a bounce pass to a cutting Tevin Webster who delivered a monstrous dunk.
While Asbury was reeling, they were far from out of the game. The final two minutes of the contest became a chess match and free-throw shooting contest. Coach John Hemenway massed his charges precisely, while the Mountaineer would convert 15 of 19 second half free-throws to capture its 12th win of the season.
BC was led by Richard Parker's 20 points, including a suburb 8 of 8 from the free throw line – most of those coming in the game's pressure packed final minutes. Robinson would score 14 point and add eight rebounds. BC which typically has three of four double-digit scorers, today had just Parker and Robinson; but more importantly every Mountaineer that played, scored.
The Mountaineers will be back in action on Monday, January 26, when they travel down to Knoxville to take on Johnson University for a 6:00 pm start.
