Feb. 11, 2010

Box Score | Notes

CEDAR CITY, Utah - Oakland University (19-8, 13-1) scored 61 first-half points and got 17 from junior Will Hudson and sophomore Drew Maynard to defeat Southern Utah University (6-18, 2-11), 85-72, on Thursday night in Summit League men's basketball action. The win snaps a three-game skid for the Golden Grizzlies at Centrum Arena.

"I thought we came out with a purpose, and we played a great first half, scoring 61 points on the road," said OU coach Greg Kampe who picked up his 105th league win tonight. "In the second half, we acted like the game was over. I give Southern Utah a lot of credit, they battled and got it down to 11 points, but we did what we had to do to get a road win."

OU's bench outscored the Thunderbirds 36-18 in the game. Despite foul trouble, junior Keith Benson tallied four blocks to tie his own single-season school record with 87. Benson finished with nine points and eight rebounds in just 22 minutes.

Senior Johnathon Jones posted nine points and seven assists, while senior Derick Nelson added eight points and seven boards. Freshman Ledrick Eackles dished out a career-high five assists, scoring seven points.

The Golden Grizzlies scored a season-high 61 points in the first half and shot 64 percent (23-36) to open up a 21-point lead at halftime, 61-40. Maynard scored 17 points, while Hudson added 15 in the first half as the Grizzlies converted 6-of-13 from long range (46 percent). The 61 points ranks third all-time in Division I history for any half.

The T-Birds got as close as 11 points, 79-68, with just under five minutes left in the game courtesy of a 15-5 run. Jones responded with a basket as the shot clock was expiring to end the run for SUU. OU would find the T-Birds within 11 for a second time with over two minutes left in the game, 81-70, but Benson made two free throws to extend it back to 13 points and hold off Southern Utah.

Jake Nielson led five T-Bird players in double figures with 17. Davis Baker added 14, while Jackson Stevenett had 13, Matt Massey scored 11 and Damon Heuir had 10.

The Golden Grizzlies will play their final regular season road game this Saturday at UMKC. Game time is set for 8 p.m. ET.