Feb. 22, 2013
ROCHESTER, Mich. - Oakland (15-14) will return home for the final two regular-season games of the season, first hosting Morehead State (13-15) in the Ramada ESPN BracketBusters game on Saturday at 5 p.m. inside the Athletics Center O'rena. This will be the first meeting between the Golden Grizzlies and Eagles.
OU is 8-2 over its last 10 games and has won 19 straight February home games. The Golden Grizzlies are 2-0 all-time against Ohio Valley Conference opponents with wins over Tennessee Tech (2009-10) and Austin Peay (2010-11).
The loss at Fort Wayne on Wednesday night, 77-71, snapped a season-best seven-game winning streak. The Golden Grizzlies went 16-for-29 (55%) from the free-throw line, second-worst performance of the season.
Morehead State has won two of its last three games, falling to OVC West leader Murray State, 106-100, in double-overtime. The Eagles stand at 7-7 in the OVC and have been to the NCAA tournament twice in the last four seasons (2009 and '11). The Eagles upset Louisville, 62-61, in the 2011 NCAA tournament to advance.
Travis Bader continues to lead the country with 125 3-pointers made. That mark is a new career best and ranks second in single-season school and league history. Bader needs just six more triples to break the all-time school record of 348, held by Erik Kangas (2005-09).
Duke Mondy has already broke the single-season school record with an NCAA-best 91 steals. The junior transfer moved into seventh in league history, six shy of fifth, with four steals at IPFW.
Drew Valentine continues to shine for the Golden Grizzlies down the stretch. The senior forward is shooting 63 percent over his last 11 games and has reached double figures in his last five. Valentine will play his 132nd game on Saturday, five shy of the school record.
The Grizzlies are 14-1 in their last 15 home games and stand at 9-1 this season, 3-0 in non-conference play. OU has won 10 or more home games in six consecutive seasons. The Black and Gold are a perfect 4-0 at home versus current Mid-Major Top 25 teams; No. 12 Valpo (70-68), No. 17 South Dakota State (88-83), No. 19 Western Illinois (67-60) and No. 23 North Dakota State (66-63).
Oakland will close the regular season out on March 2nd as they host Fort Wayne at 6 p.m. inside the O'rena. It will be the second time these two teams have squared off in the last three games.
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