Jan. 31, 2009

Box Score | Notes

BROOKINGS, S.D. - Sophomore Keith Benson recorded his sixth double-double with 18 points and a career-high 15 rebounds to go with a single-game school record of eight blocks, and senior Erik Kangas tallied 17 points, but South Dakota State (10-13, 5-6) rallied from 17 points down in the second half to defeat Oakland University (13-11, 6-5) in overtime, 74-68, on Saturday night in Summit League men's basketball action at Frost Arena.

"We had the best free throw shooter on the line (Erik Kangas) in the league and he made just one of his three shots, and (Johnathon) Jones led the league in free throws last year and is one of the top free throw shooters this year, and he has a chance to give us the lead with seven seconds and misses," said OU coach Greg Kampe. "So we had chances there to win."

Junior Johnathon Jones tallied 15 points and seven assists, while sophomore Will Hudson added 10 points and seven rebounds for the Golden Grizzlies. Benson also set a new single-season school record in blocks, pushing his total to 49.

Trailing 64-62 with 13 seconds remaining, Jones took the ball the length of the floor and made a tough basket to tie the game with seven seconds on the clock and was fouled. A 77 percent free throw shooter, Jones missed the free throw and the chance to give Oakland the lead. SDSU would miss its last chance to win the game as both teams headed to overtime.

The Jackrabbits scored a quick four points on sophomore Anthony Cordova layups. Freshman Blake Cushingberry scored his only basket of the game with 2:44 left to bring the Golden Grizzlies within a basket.

Both teams would miss chances at each end of the floor and then sophomore Kai Williams grabbed a tough offensive rebound and got the put back and was fouled, converting the old fashion three-point play to put the game out of reach for the Golden Grizzlies.

Up by 17 points (45-28) with 17:54 remaining in the second half, Oakland witnessed a 22-5 run by SDSU over a five-minute span as the game was tied at 50 apiece. Kangas then drilled a huge 3-pointer, the first of three straight, to give the Grizzlies back the lead.

Kangas was fouled on a three-point shot that rattled in and out with 4:09 left and the score tied, 61-61, but went to the free throw line for three shots. The league's top free throw shooter at 92 percent coming into the game missed 2 of 3 to give OU a slim one-point lead.

Again the Grizzlies would find themselves at the charity stripe up one, this time Jones had a one-and-one with 22 seconds left, but his first shot was off the mark. Sophomore Clint Sargent then drilled a big 3-pointer with 13 seconds left to set up Jones' coast-to-coast layup.

Leading the Jackrabbits offensively was Sargent with 17 points, while Williams finished with 15 points and 17 rebounds. Cordova also had a double-double for the Jackrabbits with 15 points and 10 boards. Freshman Griffin Callahan added 13 points off the bench.

The Grizzlies shot a season-low 36 percent (4-11) from the free throw line. OU also gave up 22 offensive rebounds that led to 11 second chance points for the Jacks.

The Golden Grizzlies will return home to face Oral Roberts (11-11, 9-1) on Thursday night. OU is 6-0 at home this year and have won eight straight inside the Athletics Center O'Rena.

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