SAINT LEO, Fla. – Saint Leo University men's basketball returned to the win column for the first time since before Thanksgiving, ending a five-game losing skid. The Lions were led by a trio of players in double digits to defeat the Ashland Eagles 59-48 in the opening game of the 2024 Hilton Garden Inn Classic. Saint Leo improves to 5-6 overall while the Eagles losing streak moves to three and fall to 5-5 overall.

Saint Leo had a trio of players hit double digits with Tae Wilson's 15 leading the group. Amar Hot had 12 points off the bench and Jaylan McElroy added 10. Wilson was a board shy of his fourth double-double of the season with nine defensive boards.

Wilson's 15 points moved him 11 points closer to hitting the 1,000 career-point mark between his time at Charleston (W.Va.) and Saint Leo. Wilson finished his two-year career at Charleston with 799 points and enters Saturday with 190 points this season.

SAINT LEO 59, ASHLAND 48

• Saint Leo outscored Ashland 38-23 in the second half, turning a four-point halftime deficit into an 11-point win.
• Wilson led the Lions with 15 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and a pair of steals, delivering key plays on both ends of the court.
• McElroy contributed 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting and added five rebounds while anchoring the defense.
• Saint Leo held Ashland to 37.7% shooting from the field and just 17.6% from three-point range, stifling their offensive rhythm.
• Hot scored 12 points and dished out five assists, providing crucial energy and playmaking.
• The Lions scored 15 second-chance points, powered by seven offensive rebounds.
• Saint Leo shot 26.9% (7-of-26) from beyond the arc but outperformed Ashland, who managed just 3-of-17 (17.6%).
• Despite committing 13 turnovers, the Lions forced 13 from Ashland and turned them into 12 points.
• Saint Leo grabbed 35 rebounds to Ashland's 32, including a team-high nine from Wilson.
• Wilson hit two clutch free throws in the final minute to put the game out of reach for Ashland.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns for the final day of the Hilton Garden Inn Classic and will look to go a perfect 2-0 as it takes on Alaska Fairbanks at 1 p.m. in the Marion Bowman Activities Center.