Jan. 16, 2010

Box Score | Notes | Highlights

ROCHESTER, Mich. - Oakland University (13-7, 7-0) left no doubt to who was going to win the game as the Golden Grizzlies started with a 13-0 run and handed Southern Utah University (5-13, 1-6) its worst league loss in program history, 99-53, on Saturday in front of a sellout crowd (3,125) at the Athletics Center O'Rena. Junior Larry Wright scored a game-high 18 points.

"I was really pleased obviously," said OU coach Greg Kampe. "To win a conference game by that wide of a margin doesn't happen very often. We have struggled with Southern Utah in the past and I think our kids understood that and they came to play."

Also in double figures for the Golden Grizzlies was senior Derick Nelson with 13 points, junior Keith Benson added 12 points and seven rebounds, going over 1,000 points in his career, while senior Johnathon Jones scored 10 points and dished out nine assists. Jones pushed his school record consecutive free throws made streak to 38 after converting all four shots from the charity stripe.

All 12 OU players scored in the game. The Golden Grizzlies turned the Thunderbirds over 26 times in the game, scoring 41 points off those turnovers. Oakland won the battle of the glass, 34-24.

SUU only had one player in double figures and that was Davis Baker with 10. The T-Birds were holding conference opponents to just 37 percent from the floor, but Oakland finished today at 53 percent (34-65). The Golden Grizzlies are 1 of 3 schools to shoot over 43 percent against Southern Utah, joining Nebraska and Utah State.

"I think we would be remiss if we didn't talk about Derick Nelson, game and after game he has taken very good players in this league and shut them down," said Kampe. "He did a very good job on Davis Baker tonight. Now he gets help like Larry's (Wright) pressure at the top, but holding Davis Baker to 10 points. It was just an outstanding effort on Derick's part and we played outstanding team defense and we are very pleased with the win."

OU pushed its winning streak to seven games and have now won 14 straight league games, which ranks second-best in Summit League history (Cleveland State - 16). The 46-point margin was the largest for Oakland over a Division I team.

The Grizzlies have now won 15 straight games against conference foes inside the O'Rena and are 22-1 at home in the last 23 games. OU will begin a four-game road swing this week at North Dakota State (Jan. 21) and South Dakota State (Jan. 23).

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