Golden Grizzlies Stomped Out by Centenary

OU can't keep losing to teams like Centenary College, who are in the bottom rung of the Summit League if they expect to be true contenders come conference tournament time. Oakland is usually one of the more talented teams in the Summit Conference, but you never can be sure of how they will play on the road. Prior to losing to Centenary, they had also lost the conference opener at Southern Utah, another team they are more then capable of beating.


From OUgrizzlies.com

After handing Centenary College its worst loss inside the Gold Dome (36 points) last season, the Gents (3-13, 1-3 Summit) returned the favor with a 20-point victory over Oakland University (10-8, 3-2 Summit), 80-60, on Thursday night inside the Gold Dome. The Golden Grizzlies shot just 10 percent from long range (2-19), while the Gents connected on 58 percent (11-19).

"We missed two easy buckets at the start of the game and it was like 5-4 through the first four minutes," said OU coach Greg Kampe. "Then (Nick) Stallings made some shots and they scored on like eight straight possessions and that was it. Tonight was the first time our freshman played like freshman."

Senior Erik Kangas led the way with 15 points, while sophomore Keith Benson tallied his third double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Drew Maynard had nine points with a career-high 10 rebounds and junior Johnathon Jones finished with 13 points and three assists.

CC's senior Nick Stallings scored a game-high 26 points, 20 in the first half. Junior Chase Adams finished with 17 for the Gents and sophomore Gary Redus was the final player in double figures with 14.

Centenary's bench outscored Oakland's bench 42-17 in the game. The Gents also scored 27 points off 16 OU turnovers and held the Grizzlies to a season-low 24 points in the first half.

The game started slowly with six lead changes and the final one coming at the 14:14 minute mark with the Gents on top 9-8. Centenary then outscored the Golden Grizzlies 25-3 run over a seven-minute span to build a 26-point lead and led by 21 at the break.

That deficit proved to be too much for Oakland as the Grizzlies never got within 14 points, creeping within 15 at the 15-minute mark. OU finished the game just 33 percent from the floor (19-57).