Oakland is playing spoiler in the Horizon League. The Golden Grizzlies have now defeated each of the league’s top three teams, first Valparaiso and Wisconsin-Green Bay and now Cleveland State after a 59-56 win Monday night. In fact, Greg Kampe’s team has climbed into fourth in the league, just one game out of a tie for first place. Oakland being a tough out is nothing new; Kampe’s teams have been challenging and occasionally beating more established opponents for years. But after a 1-5 start and a 5-12 record after 17 games, this year’s team is a surprise to be causing so much trouble in the Horizon. A less-than favorable schedule down the stretch will test the Golden Grizzlies (three home games, five road games), but it also will provide plenty of opportunities to impress if Oakland can hang around at the top of the conference.
Spartans get much-needed win at Rutgers 71-51--The Detroit Free Press
Up 15 in the first half on some dazzling execution, then back in a brief battle thanks to a mistake-fed Rutgers surge, MSU found the good stuff again in the second half and pulled away for a 71-51 decision. The Spartans (14-7, 5-3 Big Ten) set themselves up for Sunday's home date with Michigan by reviving their transition game, drilling eight three-pointers and getting 18 points from Bryn Forbes and another double-double (17 points and 11 rebounds) from Branden Dawson.MSU's Forbes comes out shooting in win over Rutgers--The Detroit Free Press
...
In a game postponed two days by a Northeast blizzard that didn't live up to expectations, Forbes blew past his, matching his most productive outing as a Spartan. After coming off the bench for the previous three games, he switched back with Javon Bess – because Bess suffered another ankle sprain – and was aggressive from the start.
The junior transfer from Cleveland State matched his most shots (10) and three-point conversions (4) of the season.
"We told him we were gonna (get him more shots)," Izzo said of a pre-game talking point, "but I thought the key to the game, I thought we were a lot better screening team tonight."
With two extra days to prep, MSU overpowers Rutgers--The Detroit News
Branden Dawson had 17 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks while Bryn Forbes scored 18 as Michigan State rolled to a 71-51 victory at the Rutgers Athletic Center.Delay worked to benefit of Spartans, who shift focus to UM--The Detroit News
...
"The bright spot is I thought we got back to our roots," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "We defended well, we rebounded well, we fast-broke well. … Now we got Forbes more into the game, which helped. And Branden Dawson has been, no question, a player that's gotten better each and every game."
It was the fifth-double-double this season for Dawson, the Big Ten's top rebounder, and the 18 points from Forbes matched his best as a Spartan. Travis Trice had 10 points and five assists while Matt Costello scored nine and had five rebounds. Denzel Valentine added seven rebounds and three assists while scoring eight points. Lourawls Nairn added a career-high eight points.
...
The second half was more of the same as Dawson sparked the decisive run with a running layup that was turned into a three-point play with a free throw, a nice dish to Costello on the fast break and a near steal that led to a Forbes 3-pointer and a 52-36 lead for the Spartans with more than 16 minutes to play.
For junior transfer Bryn Forbes, it will be his first taste of the rivalry.Breaking down Sunday's UM-MSU game--The Detroit News
And for the Lansing native, getting to play in the rivalry for the first time at home will be even bigger.
"Oh man, I'm so excited," said Forbes, who scored 18 points on Thursday. "It's gonna be crazy."
Injury report
Forbes was back in the starting lineup on Thursday after coming off the bench the previous three games. This time it wasn't about performance, it was because freshman Javon Bess aggravated an ankle injury in practice.
GuardsInjured Cleveland State has huge home challenge vs. Green Bay on Saturday--Cleveland Plain Dealer
Derrick Walton Jr. had a breakout game last year in East Lansing, but an injured foot threatens to keep him out of the Wolverines' lineup Sunday. Spike Albrecht has been solid since joining the starting lineup and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman can step in if needed.
MSU's tandem of Travis Trice and Denzel Valentine has had some huge games this season but inconsistency has plagued them at times. Trice has the ability to take over games, evidenced by a 26-point game against Iowa when he was 7-for-8 from 3-point range, while Valentine is one of the Spartans' best all-around players. Junior transfer Bryn Forbes provides plenty of scoring, shooting 47.3 percent from 3-point range, good for second in the Big Ten.
Edge: MSU
Vikings Start Three Game Homestand on Saturday--csuvikings.com
Vikings Earn 67-58 Victory Over Milwaukee--csuvikings.com
Vikings Begin Three-Game Roadswing At Oakland Saturday Afternoon--csuvikings.com
Foster: Grueling slate steels Oakland for Horizon run--The Detroit News
Detroit Drops Youngstown State 93-87 in OT--Titans Update
Detroit (11-12) Takes On Milwaukee (8-14)--Titans Update
Men's Basketball Earns 93-87 Overtime Win Over YSU--detroittitans.com
#DetroitsCollegeTeam Visits Milwaukee on Saturday--detroittitans.com
Oakland (10-12) Battles Youngstown State (10-14)--Grizz Gang
PETROS NAMED HORIZON LEAGUE SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH--ougrizzlies.com
OFFENSIVE OUTBURST DOWNS OAKLAND AGAINST WRIGHT STATE, 108-89--ougrizzlies.com
OAKLAND SQUARES OFF AGAINST CLEVELAND STATE ON ALUMNI DAY--ougrizzlies.com
UIC losing streak reaches 6 games with loss at Milwaukee--The Catch and Shoot
Technically speaking--Whoosh!Net
UIC Falls to Milwaukee 71-65--Flame Fanatic
UIC (5-17) Takes On Valparaiso (19-4)--Flame Fanatic
Flames Drop Nail-Biter at Milwaukee, 71-65--uicflames.com
UIC Basketball Hosts Second-Place Valparaiso on Saturday at 2 p.m.--uicflames.com
Flames crush Crusaders, host Green Bay Saturday--UIC News
Flames Play Host to First-Place Green Bay--uicflames.com
The Morning Dish – Thursday, January 29, 2015--Hoopville
Despite their #23 ranking this week, the Hurricanes are nowhere near a lock for the NCAAs, either. Miami entered the night with just two RPI top 50 wins, the same number of sub-100 losses they have after getting housed by Georgia Tech, which was previously winless in the ACC. The Hurricanes have more wiggle room than the Wolfpack thanks to seven road/neutral wins, but the impression of getting hammered by Wisconsin-Green Bay, Eastern Kentucky and now Georgia Tech is not a good one. And with six road games left and home games against Louisville and North Carolina, this is a team with work to do.UWGB men at Cleveland State: What to watch for--Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay to Battle at Cleveland State on Saturday Afternoon--GreenBayPhoenix.com
UWGB women at Illinois-Chicago: What to watch for--Green Bay Press Gazette
Balanced attack guides UWGB women past Valpo--Green Bay Press Gazette
Balanced Effort Gives Green Bay 67-52 Win at Valparaiso--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Green Bay to Visit UIC for Eighth-Straight Win--GreenBayPhoenix.com
Matt Tiby leads Panthers to third straight home victory--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Panthers Hang on for Third Straight Home Victory--PantherU
Milwaukee Downs UIC 71-65--UWM Update
Milwaukee (8-14) and Detroit (11-12) Square Off--UWM Update
Milwaukee Wins Third Straight At Home, Tops UIC, 71-65--uwmpanthers.com
Panthers Look To Continue Hot Streak At Home, Host Detroit Saturday--uwmpanthers.com
Panthers doomed by slow start--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Rally Comes Up Short In Loss At Cleveland State--uwmpanthers.com
Milwaukee Heads To YSU Looking To Start New Win Streak--uwmpanthers.com
Crusaders cruise to victory against Panthers--The Torch
6’9” Adekoya acts as guard on offense, center on Crusader defense--The Torch
Valparaiso (19-4) Takes On UIC (5-17)--Valpo Daily
Valpo Looks For Win #20 Saturday--valpoathletics.com
Balanced Green Bay brushes off Valparaiso women--The NWI Times
Poor defense propels Green Bay past Valparaiso--The Torch
Despite Strong Second Half, Crusaders Fall to Phoenix--valpoathletics.com
Concussions end WSU senior’s career--Dayton Daily News
Men’s basketball: Griffin’s career comes to an end--The Guardian
WSU women score 108 in win--Dayton Daily News
Women Explode for 108-89 Win at Oakland--wsuraiders.com
YSU men fall short at Detroit in overtime--Youngstown Vindicator
Youngstown State Loses to Detroit 93-87 in OT--Guin Report
Youngstown State (10-14) and Oakland (10-12) Face Off--Guin Report
Newman and Penguins Take On Wright State--The Jambar
Men's Basketball's Comeback Falls Short in 93-87 Overtime Loss at Detroit--ysusports.com
Men’s Basketball Hosts Oakland Sunday Afternoon--ysusports.com
Detroit rallies from 16 down to shock YSU women--Youngstown Vindicator
Penguins Falter in Second Half In Home Loss to Titans--ysusports.com
Schlegel Named Horizon League Scholar-Athlete of the Month--ysusports.com
Penguins Hope to Snap Short Skid Saturday vs. Milwaukee--ysusports.com
Home Wins for Detroit & Milwaukee on Thursday Night--Horizon League Network
Interview: Paris Bass--Horizon League Network
Oakland's Petros, Youngstown State's Schlegel Collect Scholar-Athlete of the Month Honors--Horizon League Network
Second Half Surge Leads Detroit Over Youngstown State, 59-58--Horizon League Network
Interview: Ashley Green--Horizon League Network
Green Bay, Wright State Remain at Top of League Standings--Horizon League Network
No comments:
Post a Comment