MVNU (3-2) jumped out to a quick 11-3 lead over the first four minutes as sophomore guard Robbie Taylor (left) scored five points and junior wing Brandon Short added four points.

After the Eagles (1-1), who own a 10-2 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools, closed the gap to 15-11 on a layup by Bylynn Hatcher at the 10:04 mark, the Cougars went on a 16-2 run to take a 31-13 lead with 4:43 remaining before the break. Taylor scored seven points during the surge.

MVNU’s lead grew to as much as 39-18 on a layup by senior guard Austin Kaiser with 36 seconds left, and the Cougars took a 39-21 advantage to the locker room at the break.

Taylor led MVNU with 12 first-half points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field and a 3-of-3 performance at the free throw line. Short added eight points, while senior post Bryce Sanborn grabbed five rebounds. The Cougars shot 63.6 percent from the field (14-for-22), 50 percent from three-point range (2-for-4), and 64.3 percent from the free throw line (9-for-14).

Ashland was led by Hatcher with seven points off the bench and Jake Smith with six points. The Eagles shot just 32 percent from the field (8-for-25), 40 percent from three-point range (2-for-5), and 50 percent at the free throw line (3-for-6).

MVNU came out hot to start the second half, too, as the Cougars quickly turned their 39-21 halftime lead into a 51-25 advantage thanks to a 12-4 run as senior wing Travis Brown led the surge with five points.

The closest that Ashland would get the rest of the way was 63-43 when Justin Garris converted a three-point play opportunity. Meanwhile, MVNU took its biggest lead at 79-49 on a jumper by Sanborn with 3:08 to play. From there, the two teams traded baskets as the Cougars picked up an 81-57 victory.

Taylor led five players in double figures for MVNU with 16 points, while Short added 14 points and seven rebounds. Junior forward Adam Grimm came off the bench to contribute a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Sanborn just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Kaiser finished with 10 points and five assists, and Brown tallied eight points and six rebounds. The Cougars finished the game shooting 52.6 percent from the field (30-for-57), 37.5 percent from three-point range (3-for-8), and 72 percent from the free throw line (18-for-25). The team also scored 18 fast break points compared to just two points for the Eagles.

"This was a great team effort tonight,” said MVNU coach Matt Moore as all 13 players who dressed saw action. "With a key post player out in Jordan Heatherly, we thought our quickness could give them trouble and did.”

"We defended well, won the turnover battle, and controlled the boards,” Moore added. "Everyone we put in the game contributed to this victory and it is fun to see them share in each others’ success. We cannot get complacent and we need to build on this effort. The Cougar Crazies were out in force tonight and it was a great environment to be a part of.”

Evan Yates paced Ashland with 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Hatcher finished with 11 points. The Eagles shot just 35.6 percent from the field (21-for-59), 21.4 percent from three-point range (3-for-14), and 70.6 percent from the free throw line (12-for-17).

The Cougars will be back in action on Tuesday when MVNU will travel to the University of Michigan-Dearborn for a 7:30 p.m. non-conference start.