2 10 2024
GAME NOTES
https://goldengrizzlies.com/documents/2024/2/9/2_10_vs_WSU.pdf
ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Golden Grizzlies men’s basketball team looks to get back on track on the road as it’s set to face Wright State inside the Nutter Center, with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m. ET.
The Golden Grizzlies (15-10, 10-4 HL) fell in overtime against Northern Kentucky, 99-89, in its second overtime meeting against the Norse in as many games.
Blake Lampman grabbed the first points of the game and added another bucket, but Northern Kentucky went on a run and put itself ahead early, 11-5. Lampman put an end to the run and continued to hit from range as the Golden Grizzlies took the lead for a short time. The Norse regained a lead slightly, but Chris Conway extended a Golden Grizzlies possession with two-straight offensive boards and fed Trey Townsend for two. Jack Gohlke added from range before the Norse tied things up once again, but Oakland grabbed a quick four points to go ahead. The game continued to teeter back-and-forth as the Norse stormed right back and grabbed a slim two-point lead with 6:44 to go.
The game swayed towards the Golden Grizzlies as it tried to widen its lead before the first 20 concluded. The team grew its lead to nine as Lampman hit another three, but the Norse clawed back and cut the lead to three. Conway pushed it up to five, but a three at the buzzer by the Norse made it a two-point game after 20, 40-38.
Oakland remained ahead in the second half before Northern Kentucky tied things up at the 6:19 mark for the first time since the first half and eventually took its first lead since the first half. Conway got a bucket to make it 79-76 with 2:34 to go but the Norse regained the lead with four-straight points with nearly a minute to play. Townsend knotted things up with a make from the line and forced a big turnover on the other end to give Oakland the ball with :46 seconds to play. Neither team converted on its final possession as the game went into extra time tied at 80.
The Norse took control of overtime as it only missed two shots, and one free throw, as it tallied 19 points to take the game, 99-89.
Oakland saw Lampman lead the team with 24 points as six of his seven makes were from beyond the arc, as Gohlke followed suit with 21 as all of his points were from deep. Townsend led the Golden Grizzlies off the glass as he grabbed a total of nine.
The Golden Grizzlies shot a total of 82 shots from the floor and hit 32 (.390) and was 14-of-49 (.286) from three. Northern Kentucky led off the glass and came down with 41 rebounds compared to Oakland’s 39.
SCOUTING THE RAIDERS
Wright State is the only Horizon League team that the Golden Grizzlies have yet to play as the two teams will play each other twice in two weeks time. The Golden Grizzlies picked up the season sweep last season against the Raiders, but have struggled against Wright State in recent years. Prior to the season sweep, the Golden Grizzlies only took one of its last 12 games played and were winless from Jan. 22, 2017-Jan. 1, 2021. In its last 10, the Golden Grizzlies are 3-7 and hold a 3-9 record when it visits the Raiders.
In a series that started in 2000, the Golden Grizzlies grabbed the first win inside the O’rena before it grabbed four-straight wins, its longest win streak against the Raiders, that spanned from the 2014-15 season to the 2015-16 season. In its most recent matchup last season (Feb. 23), Oakland came away with the win, 75-68, to follow up its road win earlier in the season, 75-53. At home, alum Jalen Moore dropped 35 points, as Townsend, Rocket Watts and Lampman got the starting nod as Townsend led the three with 14 points.
The Raiders (14-11, 9-5 HL) beat Detroit Mercy Thursday (Feb. 8), 92-85, as it won five of its last six conference games. Wright State struggled in non-conference play, as it opened up with three-straight losses before it grabbed its first win against Louisiana. The team went on to lose three of its next four non-conference games, with a win over Illinois State, as it grabbed its first conference win over IUPUI in that span. Once the Raiders restarted conference play, it grabbed three-straight wins, along with two-straight losses, twice before entering Saturday’s game on a two-game win streak. At home, the Raiders hold a 7-4 record and is 4-2 at the Nutter Center in conference play.
The Raiders squeaked out a win against the Titans, 92-85, as Wright State nearly surrendered a strong first half lead. Up by 18 after the first 20 and it dropped 50 points, the Titans closed its gap to single-digits with 8:20 left to play. The Titans cut it as close as three on seven separate occasions in the closing minutes, but a layup with :40 seconds to play, followed by a missed three from the Titans, secured the win for the Raiders, 92-85.
The Raiders are led by Trey Calvin who drops, on average, 20.0 points per game for second best overall in the Horizon League and t-29th in the NCAA. At a .489 clip from the floor, he’s added 49 makes from range and brings down 2.1 rebounds per game. In total, the Raiders have five players in double figures as Brandon Noel leads the team in rebounds with 7.4 per game, and adds 14.1 points per game.
Wright State is sixth in the NCAA in points per game with 86.0, but are 346, out of 351 teams, in points allowed per game with 81.4. The team hits at a .538 clip from the floor and makes 6.5 threes per game, and outrebounds its opponents by 1.7 per game.
Tip-off from the Nutter Center is slated for 7:00 PM ET Saturday, Feb. 10.
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