Friday, January 13, 2023

News On The Horizon 1/13/2023

State hoops: UM women brace for another huge crowd, as rival MSU comes to town--Detroit News

Oakland's found life

Michigan State is the hottest team in the state, with seven wins in a row,.

But don't sleep on Oakland, which has won five straight, after starting the season 2-11. The Golden Grizzlies, under 39th-year head coach Greg Kampe, have won five straight in Horizon League play, after starting 0-2 in Horizon. They're tied for second in the league, behind a 6-1 Milwaukee team that Oakland already has beaten.

It took a while for Oakland's roster to mesh, with some key transfers like junior guard Rocket Watts (Detroit) and graduate-student forward Keaton Hervey. The Golden Grizzlies also battled key injuries earlier in the season.

All's well now, and what you're seeing is the depth of Oakland's roster, where so many different guys can be the hero on any night. Last week, on a tough road trip, senior point guard Jalen Moore (back from an ankle injury) scored nine in the final 90 seconds as Oakland rallied for a big win at Northern Kentucky. The next game, at Wright State, Moore scored 20 and Watts hit a huge late 3-pointer to lift the Golden Grizzlies to their first win at Wright State since 2016, and Oakland's 100th all-time in the Horizon League.

Then, back home Thursday against Robert Morris, sophomore forward Trey Townsend (Oxford) had a career-high 30 points, and junior guard Blake Lampman (Haslett) had 18 points, all on 3-pointers, when he couldn't buy a 3 earlier this season as he battled remnants of a broken arm.

Hervey is averaging 12.4 points and 7.3 rebounds. Watts is averaging 9.1 points after a tough start, and has really embraced Kampe's zone defense. Sophomore forward Chris Conway is coming into his own, scoring in double figures in three straight games recently and giving Oakland another inside presence with his good friend Townsend.

What you're also seeing is confidence. It was shot earlier this season, but it's back now, as Oakland is learning how to win the close games. The last three wins have been by a combined seven points.

Slam dunks

▶ An update on Detroit Mercy graduate senior guard Antoine Davis: He scored 32 in his last game, moving him into the top five all-time in NCAA history with 3,191 points. He moved past Mississippi Valley State's Alphonso Ford, and needs just 59 points to move to No. 2, which is likely his ceiling ("Pistol" Pete Maravich is uncatchable). He also is just eight away from setting the all-time NCAA 3-pointer record. Unfortunately for Davis, who returned to the Titans for a fifth and final year after considering a transfer, Detroit Mercy's season has gone off the rails.

The Titans are 6-12, and losers of four straight and seven of eight because they can't get their full team on the court. Senior forward Gerald Liddell, a double-double machine when he's been able to play, missed last week's road games at Wright State and Northern Kentucky — two crushing losses, including one particularly brutal one in which the Titans opted not to foul the Norse up three in the waning seconds, saw NKU make a 3 and, then win in overtime. Liddell returned for Thursday night's 84-79 home loss to Youngstown State, but then junior guard Jayden Stone and graduate-student guard A.J. Oliver were benched over eligibility issues.



Cleveland State Women’s Basketball Cruises To 81-50 Victory Over Milwaukee--csuvikings.com
Cleveland State Women's Basketball Set To Close Out Homestand Against Green Bay On Saturday--csuvikings.com



Titans Comeback Falls Short As Davis Moves Into Top 5 In Scoring In NCAA History--detroittitans.com
@DetroitMBB Back In Action With Robert Morris On Saturday At Calihan Hall--detroittitans.com



Wright State Runs Away From Green Bay in Second Half--greenbayphoenix.com

Lockdown Defense Leads Phoenix to 10th Straight Win--greenbayphoenix.com



JAGUARS THWARTED BY THREE-POINT LINE IN 70-55 HOME LOSS--iupuijags.com
JAGUARS TO HOST CLEVELAND STATE ON ALUMNI DAY AT THE COLISEUM--iupuijags.com

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TRAVELS EAST FOR TWO-GAME ROAD TRIP--iupuijags.com



First Place Milwaukee Panthers? FIRST PLACE MILWAUKEE PANTHERS?--HoriZone Roundtable
'This is my city': First-place UWM makes another statement with their play, then their words--Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Panthers Top Norse In First-Place Showdown, 80-75--mkepanthers.com
Panthers Look To Keep Winning Ways Going Against Raiders--mkepanthers.com

Vikings Explode in Second Half to Top Panthers--mkepanthers.com
Panthers Close Road Trip at Purdue Fort Wayne--mkepanthers.com



Faulkner and Warrick hit milestones as Men’s Basketballs falls to Milwaukee in early-season battle for first--nkunorse.com



Townsend Records Third 30-Point Game in Fifth-Straight Win--goldengrizzlies.com
Golden Grizzlies Seek Sixth-Straight #HLMBB Victory on Saturday--goldengrizzlies.com



‘Dons Earn League Win at IUPUI--gomastodons.com

‘Dons Fall to Red-Hot Phoenix on Thursday--gomastodons.com
Mastodon WBB Seeks Home Win When Milwaukee Visits Fort Wayne--gomastodons.com



RMU Clipped by Oakland To Open Road Trip--rmucolonials.com
Motor City Matinee On Tap For Colonials--rmucolonials.com

Robert Morris suffers fifth loss in a row at Youngstown State--Colonial Sports Network
Road Trip Ends With Loss at Youngstown State--rmucolonials.com
Colonials Bring on the Jaguars--rmucolonials.com



Wright State rolls at Green Bay with defense, Noel’s 32 points--Dayton Daily News
Noel's career night leads four in double digits as Raiders roll--wsuraiders.com
Raiders set to faceoff against HL-leading Milwaukee--wsuraiders.com



Four Reach Double Figures as Penguins Hold Off Detroit Mercy, 84-79--ysusports.com
Penguins Visit Oakland in Horizon League Showdown Saturday--ysusports.com

Youngstown State smothers Robert Morris, 65-48--Warren Tribune Chronicle
Strong Defensive Effort Helps Penguins Top Robert Morris, 65-48--ysusports.com



#HLMBB Roundup - Jan. 12--The Horizon League

#HLWBB Roundup – January 12--The Horizon League

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