ROCHESTER, Mich. – Oakland University Men's Basketball standout
Jamal Cain scored his 1,000th point in his collegiate career Saturday afternoon as the Golden Grizzlies extinguished the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) Flames 81-74 at the Athletics Center O'rena.
Townsend started off the game with an and one basket just a few seconds into competition as both teams exchanged leads early. Micah Parrish knocked down two-straight three pointers to start the game as Oakland found itself up 12-10 after the first media timeout.
Cain started to get hot early on, joining Parrish and Townsend with six points early after a one-handed slam to put OU up 22-14 with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half.
Oakland was shooting 48.1% (13-27) from the field as the first half winded down with Cain holding steady at eight points to lead the team as the Pontiac native kept the Golden Grizzlies above the heat at 30-18.
A Blake Lampman steal off the UIC loose ball led to Cain's 14th points of the afternoon off the lob for Oakland's sixth point off the Flames' turnovers and 26 points total in the paint with halftime imminent.
UIC makes a bucket at the half to pull Oakland back within five at 34-29 but the stat sheet showed Cain with 14 points early on as the Golden Grizzlies decreased its shooting to 45.7% (16-35) from the field, out rebounding the Flames 25 to 18.
The Flames took the lead at the first media timeout in the second half as the Golden Grizzlies' scoring remained at a stalemate with the score 44-42. A pair of three pointers from both UIC plus Parrish and Price found Oakland up by a pair at the under 12 media timeout at 53-51.
With the Flames giving up critical possessions it was Jalen Moore and Jamal Cain who took over the game as it reached the stretch where Cain stood three points away from 1,000 in his career. Off an inbound pass from Moore, Cain towered over his defender as the Pontiac native pump-faked and pulled up a contested three-pointer that landed in net as the bench collectively celebrated.
UIC was unable to solidify any productive possessions in the final minute or two of the game as the buzzer went off at the O'rena for OU's ninth Horizon League win.
The Golden Grizzlies finished 84.2% (16-19) from the free throw line, 49.2% (29-59) from the field as Cain collected his ninth double double of the year with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Townsend had his sixth 20-plus point performance of the year with 22 to his credit.
Moore had a team-high eight assists and four steals as both Cain and Parrish had critical blocks.
Oakland will be on the road for two-straight weeks starting with a Horizon League showdown with foe Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky on Thursday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m.
