CLINTON, Iowa - In a fierce defensive struggle, the Ashford University men's basketball team threw another wrench into the already muddled Midwest Collegiate Conference standings, downing league-leading Viterbo University on Thursday night, 58-51.

The Saints (15-9, 6-4 MCC) won their third consecutive game while putting an end to the V-Hawks (8-12, 6-3 MCC) five-game win streak. AU successfully avenged a heart-breaking loss at the buzzer on VU's home court back in early December.

Ashford remains just one game back of first in the MCC as St. Ambrose University and No. 15 Grand View University lead the way at 7-3 in league play.

Senior guards Byron Emerson of Rockford, Ill., and Daniel Joiner of West Chicago, Ill., scored 11 points apiece and sophomore guard Rashad Carrington of Milwaukee, Wis., added 10 in his fourth straight start.

V-Hawks forward Scott Buschman recorded another double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Nick Stilwell and Eric Ambrose each had 10 points.

"We knew that this game would be a battle on the defensive side of the ball," AU Head Coach Andy Eberhart said. "We did a good job limiting their looks on some possessions and getting some critical stops down the stretch."

Viterbo was plagued by missed shots, converting just under 26 percent of their field goal attempts. The V-Hawks struggled from long range, hitting just 2-of-17 from beyond the arc, and made just six field goals in the second half.

Carrington led the Ashford defensive hounding with his on-ball pressure, recording three steals, while continuing to emerge as the ringleader for the one of the MCC's best teams in thefts per game. He has 16 steals in his last four games, including a season-high seven in the upset win against Mt. Mercy College.

"This game was pretty personal because of the loss earlier in the year," Carrington said afterwards. "We knew the Ambrose brothers (Eric, Ryan) are good shooters and it just comes down to watching the waist and making a basketball player play. We tried to put the pressure on them tonight with timing, anticipation and locking them down."

The Ambrose brothers were pivotal in the teams' first meeting, combining for 29 points. This time around, they were 4-of-22 from the floor and totaled just 14 points together.

Viterbo led for the first 10 minutes before a three-point play by Emerson gave the Saints a lead they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the way.

Carrington pushed the AU lead to 13 on a trey at the 16:48 mark in the second half and the V-Hawks were unable to cut the deficit into fewer than five points.

"It was a grind and all about preventing the other team from going on any kind of a run," he added. "We're building confidence in what we're doing and playing with energy right now. It's really helping this team."

The Saints have a chance to sweep Iowa Wesleyan College in the regular-season series on the road in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, tipping off for a 3 p.m. contest.