(NORTH CANTON, Ohio) Walsh (6-7, 2-7) erased a 15-point second half deficit to stun first place South Division leader Ashland (10-5, 4-5), 71-65, in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Alumni Arena. The win, the biggest of the season for the Cavs, also snapped six-game losing streak, Walsh's longest since 1979-80. The Cavs are back in GLIAC action at Lake Erie College on Saturday at 3pm. The game will be broadcast live WNPQ FM, 95.9.

Walsh struggled mightily from the floor in the first half and trailed 37-28 at the break. The Cavs converted on just 8 of 36 field goal attempts, and were just 3-11 from three-point. Walsh was able to keep the deficit under double digits by connecting on 9-11 free throws. Davonte Beard (6-3, Sr., Akron, OH/St. Vincent-St. Mary) tallied nine first points and seven first half rebounds.

The Eagles quickly pushed the lead to 15 points (49-34) five minutes into the half, as Walsh remained ice cold from the floor.

The Eagles led 56-41 with 10:23 to play when the Cavs began to mount their charge.

The Cavs finally cut the lead to single digits at 58-49 when Jesse Hardin Jr. (6-2, Jr., Warren, OH/Harding) scored on three-point play with 8:03 to play.

Walsh would trim the lead to 58-52 on a Beard layup with 6:01 left, and to 58-54 on two Hardin Jr. free throws with 5:19 to play.

The run would continue after a Wendell Davis turnover, when Zac Carter (5-9, So., Ironton, OH/HS) hit a long three to pull the Cavs to within one point at 58-57 with 4:45 to play.

The Eagles would end the Cavs 9-0 run on a Cole Krizanic layup to lead 60-57 with 4:13 to play.

But for the Cavs, Carter was just getting started. He nailed another three to tie the game at 60-all with 4:04 remaining.

The Eagles then regained the lead at 63-60 on a DeWuan Thomas three from the corner with 3:14 left.

Walsh would keep the pressure on as Trey Fletcher (6-6, So., Ironton, OH/HS) scored in the lane to cut the lead to 63-62 with 2:50 left. This would be the Eagles' last lead of the game.

Walsh would take their first lead since 3-0 when Hardin Jr. drove to basket to give the Cavs a 64-63 lead with 2:21 left.

The two teams traded misses before Carter hit his third straight three-pointer to give the Cavs a 67-63 lead with 28 seconds to play.

After Ashland's Boo Osborne missed from three-point range, L.J. Campbell (6-8, Sr., Weirton, WV/Weir) dropped in two free throws give Walsh a 69-63 lead with 14 seconds.

Hardin Jr. would hit two more free throws for the final margin.

Walsh closed the game on a 30-11 run.

After shooting near the 20 percent mark for almost 30 minutes, the Cavs caught fire and shot 48% from the field in the second half. They were outstanding from the line connecting on 23-28. They also did a superb job on the boards, out rebounding Ashland 45-31.

Hardin led Walsh with 19 points and was a perfect 7-7 from the line. Carter, who took control in the later stages, scored a career-high 18 points. He finished 5-10 from the field, 3-4 from three-point and 5-6 from the line. Beard added 15 points and seven rebounds, and Campbell had eight points and seven rebounds. Hardin Jr. and Kyle Arnold (6-4, Sr., North Canton, OH/Hoover) also grabbed seven rebounds.

Davis led Ashland with 20 points.

The two teams meet at Ashland on February 5.