FAIRMONT —
Marcus Ashton’s first game in a Glenville State College uniform was a memorable one.
The 6-3 standout guard, who was offered scholarships to both Rutgers and Georgetown coming out of high school, had been out of basketball for a couple of years, but was declared eligible this week and made a huge impact in the Pioneers’ 75-59 romp over Fairmont State here Saturday afternoon at the Joe Retton Arena.
Ashton, who came to Glenville from Lackawanna Junior College, scored a game-high 25 points in just 17 minutes of action to help the struggling Pioneers improve to 3-10 overall and to 2-7 in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
The loss, Fairmont’s second in a row, dropped the Falcons to 5-8 overall and to 3-6 in the league.
Nineteen of Ashton’s points came in the second half when Glenville ran away from FSU. The Falcons led the contest for almost the entire first half until GSC’s Mark Walker sank a pair of free throws with 35 seconds left to give his team its first advantage at 29-28.
Glenville then opened the final half with a flurry that Fairmont simply had no answer for. Leading 43-38 with 13:55 remaining, Glenville State, led by Ashton, went on a 16-0 run during a 4:12 span, which served as the knockout blow for the Falcons.
The spurt led to a 21-point, 59-38, Pioneer lead. Fairmont did get back within 12 on three occasions during the game’s final eight minutes but could get no closer.
Glenville’s aggressive 1-3-1 defense frustrated FSU’s main offensive threats, Steve Custis and Isaac Thornton, the whole game. That duo, which entered the contest averaging 44 points, was held to just 29 and struggled shooting the ball. Custis finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and four steals, but was just 7-of-21 from the field, including 2-of-10 from 3-point range. Thornton, on the other hand, had 11 points and was 4-of-20 shooting, including 1-of-9 from 3-point range.
As a team, FSU shot 32.4 percent from the field (22-of-68), including a mere 24.2 percent from 3-point range (8-of-33).
“We didn’t shoot the ball well and that had a little bit to do with them and their defense,” said FSU interim coach Brett Vincent. “We had some shots, but they didn’t go down. It seems like when you don’t make baskets everything else tends to go with it — our defensive intensity went and our rebounding went and we got a little frustrated. We also made some silly fouls 90 feet from the basket.
“Tonight’s really the only night all year I can say that we basically got out-played from the tip to the finish.”
Melvin Rhodes added eight points for FSU, while Erv McFadden contributed five.
In addition to Ashton’s 25-point outing, the Pioneers got 10 points from both Andy Dollman and Jamel Morris, while Kevin Gray chipped in nine and Walker added eight.
Fairmont State will attempt to rebound Wednesday when it entertains Shepherd University in a 7:30 p.m. conference showdown at the Joe Retton Arena.
Duane Cochrane
Related Photos
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Fairmont State’s Chris Thompson heads to the basket around Glenville State’s Mark Walker. PHOTO BY TAMMY SHRIVER
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Fairmont State’s Steve Custis goes for two as Glenville State’s jamel Morris attempts to block. PHOTO BY TAMMY SHRIVER
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Fairmont State’s Melvin Rhodes drives toward the basket as Glenville State’s Kevin Gray comes in for the block. PHOTO BY TAMMY SHRIVER
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Fairmont State’s Isaac Thornton looks for away around Glenville State’s Nate Cash. PHOTO BY TAMMY SHRIVER
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Fairmont State’s Greg Hunt drives toward the basket as Glenville State’s Kevin Gray guards on the play. PHOTO BY TAMMY SHRIVER
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