CLINTON, Iowa - Tuesday's men's basketball matchup featured the Saints -- and well, also the Saints.
And the home Saints of Ashford University (7-3, 0-0 MCC) prevailed in a big way over the visiting University of St. Francis Fighting Saints (1-7, 0-0 CCAC), 89-58.
In conjunction with AU Community Kids Night, the Saints gave the crowd a lot to cheer for, running the tables against overmatched St. Francis while signing posters and other items for youngsters during the preceding women's game.
Behind a 14-point night from sophomore guard Rashad Carrington of Milwaukee, Wis., Ashford denied St. Francis Head Coach Pat Sullivan his 500th career win, a milestone the 34th-year coach will have to try to wait and achieve Nov. 28 against Lewis University.
"I was real pleased at a lot of things we were able to do tonight, especially on the defensive end," AU Head Coach Andy Eberhart said. "We passed the ball well and that translated into some easy buckets. We played well enough on defense that St. Francis struggled to find an offensive rhythm at certain times in the game."
The Saints shot a blistering 60 percent from the field and scored nearly half of their points in the paint (40).
Carrington flourished for the second straight game while moving back to reserve role as junior guard Mike Relerford of Rockford, Ill., returned to the starting lineup after missing one game due to a high ankle sprain.
The ambidextrous sophomore hit shots using his left and right hands driving the lane, hit a key three-point shot in the first half and helped cause some of USF's 15 turnovers.
Carrington led four Saints in double-figures joined by senior guard Byron Emerson of Rockford, Ill., sophomore forward Peter Tanzillo of Kewanee, Ill., and Relerford.
Relerford was just one assist shy of a double-double, penetrating at will against the USF defense. He threw an assortment of no-look passes and could have had more, playing for 19 minutes.
Tanzillo alleviated early foul trouble by Marvis Kidd of Hazel Crest, Ill., and made all five of his field goal attempts for 12 points.
AU took a commanding lead at halftime, leading 47-22, but the defense kicked in the second half as St. Francis mustered just eight points in an eight-minute span. The Saints' lead swelled up to as many as 44 on a floater by Carrington.
The Saints open Midwest Collegiate Conference play on Dec. 2, hosting Clarke College in Kehl Arena for a 7:30 p.m. tip.
