Oakland overwhelms Centenary for 14th straight league win

SHREVEPORT, La. – Senior Keith Benson scored a season-high 28 points, nine rebounds and a blocked a season-high seven shots, while sophomore Drew Valentine recorded his first-ever double-double with 10 points and a career-high 10 rebounds to lead Oakland University (8-8, 3-0) past Centenary College , 98-71, in Summit League men’s basketball action on Tuesday night inside the Gold Dome.

“I’m always happy when we can get a road win in our league,” said Oakland coach Greg Kampe. “I substituted a lot tonight and was very pleased with the minutes Kito (Keith Benson) had tonight.”

The Golden Grizzlies (8-8, 3-0) have now won 11 straight regular-season league games and 14 overall against league opponents. Oakland shot 69 percent (20-for-29) in the second half and led by as many as 30 on several occasions. The Grizzlies had six players in double figures.

Junior Ilija Milutinovic tied his career-high 12 points, senior Larry Wright tallied 11 points and six assists, while junior Reggie Hamilton dished out a career-high tying nine assists. Freshman Travis Bader and sophomore Ledrick Eackles each added 10 points for Oakland.

The Golden Grizzlies led by as many as 21 points in the first half, 19 of those coming from Benson, as Oakland shot  41 percent from beyond the arc (7-for-17) and led by 12, 51-39 at the half. Despite being outsized, the Gents were able to tie OU on the glass, 19-19, in the opening 20 minutes.

Oakland came out with some defensive intensity in the second half, taking its largest lead of the game at 30 points on three different occasions to cruise to a 27-point win. The Grizzlies held the Gents to 32 points in the second 20 minutes and outrebounded Centenary 42-31 in the game.

Centenary, in its last season in the Summit League and Division I, dropped to 0-14 overall and 0-3 in the league.

Oakland will continue its Summit League road trip at Oral Roberts (5-8, 2-0) on Thursday night inside the Mabee Center. Tip is schedule for 8:05 p.m. ET and will be televised on Fox College Sports.

Tags: college men's basketball

Category: Oakland University