Feb. 7, 2009
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 
ROCHESTER, Mich. - Sophomore Keith Benson scored a career-high 26 points, senior Erik Kangas tallied 19, and junior Johnathon Jones posted his second straight double-double with 13 points and 12 assists, to lead Oakland University (15-11, 8-5) to a 78-65 victory over Centenary College (7-17, 5-7) in Summit League men's basketball action on Saturday in the Athletics Center O'Rena.
"Obviously this was a good win for us coming off the emotion of Thursday night," said OU coach Greg Kampe. "We were a little flat when we came out. We missed a lot of easy shots, we missed free throws, and I think that defensively we were kind of playing in cement. But I do think that with a few minutes left in the first half, (Erik) Kangas hit a three to get going, and we picked up our intensity defensively.
"There was something missing in our step, and I was kind of angry about that, obviously because it's homecoming, we have a sellout, and with all the good things that we've done, I did not want to see that. We talked about that at halftime, and came out and played an outstanding second half."
Also in double figures for the Golden Grizzlies was freshman Blake Cushingberry, finishing with 11 points and a career-high nine rebounds. Benson added four blocks and seven boards, scoring a career-high 10 points from the free throw line (10-15). Jones also reached a career high at the charity stripe, going 11-for-12.
OU extended its home winning streak to 10 games with the victory. The Golden Grizzlies also made a season-high 27 free throws, shooting 73 percent for the game (27-37). Oakland outscored the Gents 28-12 in the paint, but Centenary kept the game close for much of the game with 21 points off 14 OU turnovers.
Oakland trailed for most of the first half as the Gents began the game with a 13-3 run. The Golden Grizzlies countered with an 11-0 run of their own and the game remained a two or three-point spread for most of the opening 20 minutes. Kangas then drilled a pair of 3-pointers over the final 53 seconds to give OU a 35-34 halftime lead.
With the Grizzlies up by two points, 52-50, at the 9:50 minute mark, Oakland outscored the Gents 13-3 to extend the lead to 12 points and pushed the lead all the way to 16, 70-54, with just 3:36 remaining in the game. That would be too much of a mountain to climb for Centenary as Oakland exacted revenge from an earlier season loss in Shreveport.
Leading the way for the Gents was junior Chase Adams, sophomore Gary Redus and senior Nick Stallings. Adams scored a team-high 23 points, Redus added 13 and Stallings finished with 12 points for Centenary.
Oakland will have six days off before hosting IPFW on Saturday, Feb. 14, in the O'Rena. Tip is slated for 6 p.m. and will air on OU's flagship station WDTW-AM (1310).
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