Oakland lands five in double figures in rout of Western Illinois

DRIVING THE LANE: Oakland's Reggie Hamilton drives pqst Western Illinois' Kaimarr Price during the Golden Grizzlies' 79-50 triumph.

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

ROCHESTER HILLS — The stars came out Saturday night at the Athletics Center O’Rena — in droves.

Oakland University had five players score in double figures, three players finished with double-doubles and the Golden Grizzlies tortured visiting Western Illinois with a 79-50 Summit League rout in front of an overflow crowd.

Oakland is a nation’s best 30-1 in their last 31 league games, losing only to IUPUI last February.

The Golden Grizzlies, thanks to IUPUI’s victory over IPFW, are now in sole possession of first place in the Summit League one-third of the way through the conference schedule.

“I am pleased, especially how we shot the ball Thursday night (against IUPUI) that we could have gone into a lull against a team whose record is not outstanding. I think we played the way a championship program plays,” praised Oakland coach Greg Kampe. “We came out and played with great intensity and that goes to the leadership on this team.”

Senior Larry Wright was held to 12 minutes, still suffering from an ankle injury that kept him out of the starting lineup, and sophomore Ledrick Eackles was held out due to injury. One couldn’t tell the Grizzlies were mainly without two key components.

Will Hudson scored 18 with seven rebounds, Travis Bader nailed five three-pointers for 15 points, Drew Valentine had 17 points and 12 rebounds, Keith Benson added 13 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks and Reggie Hamilton had 10 points, 10 rebounds and three steals for Oakland, which shot 24-for-50 (48 percent) for the game, nailed nine 3-pointers and finished 22-for-28 from the foul line.

“A lot of things happen in the course of the season,” said Hudson of the injuries. “We just try to pick each other up. If one of us fall down, we pick it back up and carry on. That’s helped us out a lot, picking each other up and pushing each other more.”

Price led Western Illinois with 17 points and Brandon Smith twined 12 points for the Leathernecks.

Oakland (11-8, 6-0) held Western Illinois to 36.8 shooting (21-for-57) and held the Leathernecks without a point from 4:22 of the first half to until there was 15:37 left in the second half — a span of 8:45.

“We were struggling offensively. They were doubling (Benson) hard and they were small. Benson was frustrated because he was getting beat up pretty good. The (ball) wasn’t coming to him at times,” said Kampe. “We weren’t clicking offensively but we were defending. We know that we are talented offensively and that run was going to come.

“I think they had eight points on four possessions and they scored 10 the rest of the half,” added Kampe. “We were really defending well. We were switching and doing all the (right) things and our athleticism took over. I knew our run was coming.”

Western Illinois’ Kaimarr Price ended the drought with a jumper, but the Leathernecks were already in a large hole, trailing 51-20 at that point.

The Golden Grizzlies led 9-8 with 16:28 before closing the half with a 33-10 run.

Oakland, which had assists on 20 of 24 made baskets and out-rebounded WIU 41-32, led by as many as 33 points in the second half.

To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com.  To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com

Tags: college men's basketball, featured

Category: Oakland University