Nov. 21, 2009

Box Score | Quotes | Notes

ROCHESTER, Mich. - Junior Keith Benson led a charge of five players in double figures with 21 points and nine rebounds, while junior transfer Larry Wright added a season-high 16 points and career-high five assists, to lead the Oakland University men's basketball team (1-2) to a 97-63 victory over crosstown foe Rochester College (6-5) on Saturday night inside the Athletics Center O'Rena.

"I think we are getting better," said OU coach Greg Kampe. "We have a big road trip coming up with two games and we are taking this one game at a time. I think since we've gone Division I, it's hard for me to remember our Division II days of playing Garth Pleasant's team, but this is the best team he's had since making that jump to Division I and we've played them multiple times."

Sophomore Drew Maynard went 6-for-8 from the floor and finished with a season-high 14 points, including a highlight dunk on an alleyoop in the second half. Junior Will Hudson scored a season-high 15 points, while senior Derick Nelson scored 13 points and six rebounds for the Golden Grizzlies.

The Warriors had three players in double figures, led by senior Adrian Schaffer's game-high 20 points. Junior Michael Graham and junior Marques Ewell tallied 14 and 10 points, respectively.

"I like this team," said Kampe about Rochester College. "I think they're good and Adrian Schaffer is a good player."

Rochester College managed to stay within striking distance in the first half as the Golden Grizzlies were up five points, 25-20, at the halfway point. Oakland then pulled away for good with a 12-0 run and took a 12-point advantage at the break, 47-35.

OU would continue to push the tempo and eventually extended its lead all the way to 36 points with just over a minute left in the game. The Golden Grizzlies held the Warriors to 35 percent shooting in the second half and shot 61 percent themselves.

Senior Johnathon Jones added five assists for Oakland and is 14 away from becoming the all-time leader in The Summit League, trailing Bryce Drew's 626. Freshman Ledrick Eackles had career-bests with four points and five assists.

All but one OU player scored in the game. The Golden Grizzlies will hit the road for two games prior to Thanksgiving with match-ups at Tennessee Tech (Nov. 23) and No. 1 Kansas (Nov. 25). Both game times will be at 8 p.m. ET.

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