WILMORE, Ky. – The Earlham College men's basketball team took an 81-77 win at Asbury University on Saturday afternoon. 

Connor Smith led the Quakers off the bench, shooting 5-of-9 on 3-pointers for 18 points and 10 rebounds. Bud Davis scored 16 points with four assists and one steal. Noah Gathings scored a season-high 14 points with eight boards and one steal. 

Tommy Reddick collected two blocks, and scored eight points with seven rebounds. Travis Makabu dished out four assists while scoring nine points with six boards. 

Gathings hit a jumper to put the Quakers up 28-23 with 7:26 remaining in the first half, but the Eagles responded with an 11-2 run and led 34-30 with four minutes left in the half. A 3-pointer by Smith gave the Quakers a one-point lead with two minutes remaining, and Asbury closed out the half on a three-point play. 

Asbury scored on five of its first nine possessions in the second half, and went on a 13-5 run to lead 52-42 with 16 minutes remaining in the game. The Quaker defense held Asbury scoreless over the next five minutes, as Earlham put up 13 points to lead 55-52. Smith hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 66 with 4:04 remaining in the game, and the Quakers took the lead for good with a layup by Patrick Hardimon with 2:44 remaining. 

In the final two minutes of play, Earlham went 9-for-13 on free throws to hold off the charging Eagles. 

Earlham is set to begin HCAC play on Wednesday evening against Transylvania University at home in Druley Performance Gym. Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm.