Oakland downs UMKC for 31st straight league home win

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

ROCHESTER HILLS — The best start in Oakland University’s tenure as a Division I basketball program continued Saturday and at UMKC’s expense.

Senior guard Laval Lucas Perry and redshirt freshman center Corey Petros both reached a career high in points and Oakland landed four players in double figures in topping UMKC, 86-73, in a Summit League contest at the Athletics Center O’rena.

“I am usually right about these things, but this is the best start in our Division I era,” smiled Oakland coach Greg Kampe. “The reason that is a great start is of who we normally play. We’ve played Alabama, Arkansas, Houston (and) Tennessee (this season). We’re very pleased with the start.”

Oakland took the lead 14:32 left in the first half at 12-10 and never trailed again in gaining their 31^st consecutive league home win. Overall, the Golden Grizzlies are 51-3 in their last 54 league games and won their sixth straight game overall to move to 6-2 — their best start since becoming a D-I program in 1998-99.

Oakland has also won 11 straight against the Kangaroos.

“I am very proud of how we played. This was our fourth game in nine days with a tough schedule and that was coming off a 10-day road trip,” said Kampe. “There was no time for a trap game, no time for a letdown and we didn’t have a letdown. Now, we didn’t have our ‘A’ game tonight, for sure. Our legs were a little tired and we didn’t shoot well. It seems that another guy keeps stepping up and knocks the ball out of the park for us.”

Lucas-Perry, who previously played for Arizona and Michigan, scored 21 points with six rebounds and two blocked shots off the bench to pace Oakland (6-2, 2-0). Petros, who redshirted last season behind all-conference players Keith Benson and Will Hudson, had another double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds for Oakland, which held a 41-31 edge on the boards.

Senior guard Reggie Hamilton chipped in with 18 points, Drew Valentine had 13 points and Travis Bader scored eight, two days after scoring a career-high 28 points, for the Grizzlies.

“The one thing I like about this team is that anyone can step up at any given time,” said Lucas-Perry. “Reggie (Hamilton) did it for a couple games, (Travis) Bader did it last game with 28 points. Tonight I did it.”

Oakland took UMKC out of its offensive rhythm and forced the Kangaroos into isolation and drives to the basket. Reggie Chamberlain scored a season-high 30 points for UMKC, which only had eight assists on 30 field goals but finished 49.2 percent from the floor (30-for-61).

UMKC dwindled the deficit down to 62-56 with 10:05 to go on a dunk by Fred Chatmon.  The Kangaroos (4-5, 1-1) would get no closer.

Oakland, which finished 28-for-60 (46.7 percent) from the floor, responded with an 8-2 run to push the lead back up to 12 points at 70-58. The Golden Grizzlies slowly pulled away during the final 10 minutes, taking its biggest lead of 17 points (86-69) with 1:10 left to play.

Thomas Staton, a graduate of nearby Clarkston High School, added 10 points, while Nate Rogers chipped in with nine points for UMKC. Chatmon contributed eight points and seven rebounds for the Kangaroos.

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