Oakland sets all-time Summit League record with 17th straight conference win
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
SILVER STREAK: Oakland's Keith Benson and the Golden Grizzlies have set the new Summit League record with 17 straight regular season confernce wins. Courtesy Photo.
FARGO, N.D. — Streaks com in all sizes. For Oakland University’s men’s basketball team, the Golden Grizzlies current streak is longer than any other in conference history.
Oakland captured its 17th straight regular season Summit League win Saturday night —20th straight including the three conference tournament wins last season — which sets the all-time conference record. The winning ticket was an 83-76 road win over host North Dakota State Saturday at the Bison Sports Arena.
Keith Benson, making his 13th career start, second all-time in school history, was a force down low for Oakland (14-8, 9-0), posting a double-double with 21 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots for Oakland, which shared the league record with former Summit League member Cleveland State.
North Dakota State, which defeated Oakland in the conference tournament finals two years ago, pulled to within 68-67 with 3:26 to go to pose a serious threat on the Grizzlies’ streak. Oakland closed with a 15-9 run to keep the Bison at bay.
Oakland is now 38-2 in its last 40 games against league opponents, which includes the previous two conference tournaments. The only losses were to North Dakota State in the conference tournament last season and to IUPUI on the road last winter during the regular season — again signaling one of the most dominant periods by any team within its conference in league history.
The Golden Grizzlies, which are a nation’s best 33-1 in its last 34 league games, have nine league games to go before the conference tournament in early March.
Larry Wright was a perfect 4-forf-4 on 3-pointers and finished with 20 points for OU, which is riding a 15-game win streak overall. Oakland’s last loss was at No. 1 Ohio State on Dec. 23.
Drew Valentine scored in double figures for the seventh straight game and eighth in nine league games, and Reggie Hamilton twined 10 points for the Grizzlies, who led 34-28 at the half.
Wight’s drilled a three-point to give his team its biggest lead at 43-32 with 16:52 to go, but Oakland could never tuck the Bison to bead until the final minute.
Marshall Bjorklund paced the Bison (9-10, 3-6) with 21 points. Eric Carlson and Michael Tveidt added 11 points apiece, and Freddy Coleman and Drew Lundberg chipped in with 10 points each, as NDSU landed five players in double figures.
Taylor Braun had nine rebounds as the Bison forged a 40-33 edge on the boards — the first time all season that Oakland was out-rebounded by a league opponent.
To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com
Category: Oakland University
ADDITIONAL LINKS:
FALL SPORTS
FOOTBALL: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Football&x=12&y=12
SOCCER: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=soccer&x=0&y=0
CROSS COUNTRY: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Cross+country&x=11&y=10
GOLF: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Golf&x=9&y=14
TENNIS: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Tennis&x=13&y=4
VOLLEYBALL: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Volleyball&x=0&y=9
SWIMMING: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Swimming&x=11&y=14
WINTER SPORTS
BASKETBALL: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Basketball&x=13&y=12
WRESTLING: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=wrestling&x=10&y=9
SKIING: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Skiing&x=5&y=14
GYMNASTICS: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Gymnastics&x=10&y=12
HOCKEY: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Hockey&x=11&y=14
SWIMMING: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Swimming&x=11&y=14
BOWLING: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Bowling&x=4&y=13
SPRING SPORTS
BASEBALL: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Baseball&x=16&y=13
SOFTBALL: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Softball&x=8&y=11
TRACK AND FIELD: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=track&x=14&y=11
LACROSSE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=lacrosse&x=12&y=9
TENNIS: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Tennis&x=13&y=4
GOLF: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=Golf&x=9&y=14
SOCCER: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=soccer&x=0&y=0