CLINTON, Iowa - The Ashford University (8-3, 1-0 MCC) men's basketball team showed why it merited recognition in the first regular season NAIA Coaches Poll, opening Midwest Collegiate Conference play with an 87-63 rout against Clarke College (1-9, 0-1 MCC) on Wednesday.

The Saints received four votes in the first Top 25 poll released earlier this week, tying Johnson & Wales University (Colo.) and Aquinas College (Mich.).

Behind a streaking fast-break offense and effective half-court trap, the Saints reeled off their fourth consecutive win.

"We're continuing to show promising signs on offense and defense," AU Head Coach Andy Eberhart said. "The first conference win is always the toughest and we have a tough test in store for us on Saturday (at Viterbo University)."

Senior guard Daniel Joiner of West Chicago, Ill., continued his torrid start to the season, leading Ashford with a 20-point night. After missing his first free-throw attempt, Joiner made nine straight from the charity stripe.

Sophomore forward Matthias Burns of Chicago was just one rebound shy of his third double-double of the season, collecting nine boards to go along with 14 points.

Joiner and Burns were among four Saints in double digits along with sophomore Rashad Carrington (10) of Milwaukee, Wis., and senior guard Byron Emerson (14) of Rockford, Ill.

The NAIA National Championship qualifying, MCC regular season and MCC tournament champion men's soccer team was honored at halftime as three customized banners were dropped down from the rafters of Kehl Arena.

The Saints shut down one of the conference's most potent scorers in senior forward Thomas Ammon, who was 13th in total scoring among all NAIA Div. II players entering tonight's game.

Ammon struggled to six points on 2-of-12 shooting, forcing up shots from difficult angles and battled foul trouble.

Ashford came out hot from beyond the arc, hitting a trio of treys by senior guard Byron Emerson of Rockford, Ill., Burns and Joiner, on its first three offensive possessions. The Saints led from the opening tip to the very end and asserted itself defensively in the early going.

AU led by as many as 14 in the first half after back-to-back trifectas from junior guard Dustin Barker of Davis, Ill.

Clarke would whittle the double-digit lead down to six heading into the half, but the Crusaders' first field goal in the second half wouldn't come until the 16:27 mark to end a 7-0 Saints' run.

A jumper by Burns gave Ashford its largest lead of the game at 63-36 and the AU advantage would remain above 20 points for the final 11 minutes.

Backup guard Justin Heng led Clarke with 15 points off the bench and post player Elliott Carr contributed 13 points and nine rebounds.

The Saints will look to extend their win streak to five games on Saturday, facing Viterbo University at 3 p.m. in La Crosse, Wis.