Feb. 20, 2010

Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery

ROCHESTER, Mich. - Seniors Johnathon Jones and Derick Nelson scored 24 and 21 points, respectively, to lead the Oakland University men's basketball team (22-8, 16-1) to its second Summit League regular-season championship with an 88-81 win over North Dakota State University (10-16, 7-9) on Saturday inside the Athletics Center O'Rena.

"Before this season started I said that we had senior leaders that were going to make this team really good," said OU coach Greg Kampe. "Tonight they showed why. In all my years I don't think I have had two seniors who have wanted to do something so badly and take it upon themselves to get it done. I'm so proud of them."

Nelson grabbed 14 rebounds to post a double-double, while junior Keith Benson added 17 points and eight rebounds. The Grizzlies have now won 12 straight at home and 19 consecutive games versus league opponents inside the O'Rena. OU has now won seven straight games and is 16-1 in its last 17 games.

With the Golden Grizzlies down by two points (53-51), Jones took over with nine points in 2:21 on a pair of 3-pointers and an old-fashioned three-point play as Oakland went up by six points, 62-56, with just over eight minutes left in the game. Benson then provided OU with some breathing room late with a big offensive rebound and putback, plus a foul, to extend the Grizzlies' lead to nine points, 80-71, with 1:17 remaining in the contest.

Oakland trailed at the half, 41-35, and improved to 3-9 this season when down at the break. The Golden Grizzlies are 3-1 this season in league play when their down at halftime.

Michael Tveidt finished with a game-high 28 points, posting his third straight 20-point game against the Grizzlies. Eric Carlson had 14 points, Nate Zastrow 13 and Josh Vaughan posted 11 for the Bison.

The Golden Grizzlies will conclude the regular season against IPFW next Saturday, Feb. 27. Game time is set for 6 p.m. as OU will honor its two seniors, Jones and Nelson.

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