Big second half lifts Oakland past Golden Eagles, 77-56
A 14-0 run in the second half lifted the Oakland Grizzlies on their way to a 21-point non-conference victory over the Golden Eagles Monday night in Eblen Center in the Tech's home opener.
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech’s first action on
its home court didn’t go quite the way coach Mike Sutton had
hoped it would.
A 14-0 run midway in the second half pushed visiting Oakland
University on its way to a 77-56 victory over the Golden Eagles
Monday night in a Hall of Fame Showcase contest in Eblen
Center.
The Golden Eagles (2-3) tried to battle back into the contest with
a late rally, but the Grizzlies (2-2) not only withstood the
challenge with some clutch 3-point shooting, but added to their
lead over the final five minutes.
The final 21-point margin was the largest difference in the
contest.
The game was Tech’s home opener following four games on the
road to get the 2009-2010 season underway.
Derrick Nelson led all scorers with 20 points and grabbed seven
rebounds while Keith Benson added a double-double with 17 points
and 10 rebounds. Point guard Jonathan Jones, the Summit
League’s preseason Player of the Year, had 14 points, five
rebounds and five assists.
Sophomore Kevin Murphy topped Tech with 15 points and grabbed six
rebounds, while junior Alfred Jones had 12 points and seven
rebounds.
It was Tech’s third of four games in the Hall of Fame
Showcase. Tech split its first two Showcase games, beating Central
Arkansas before falling at Memphis.
The score was tied five times in the first half. Tech’s only
advantage during the first 20 minutes was a couple of two-point
leads in the first five minutes. Otherwise, the Grizzlies
maintained a lead that grew to as many as eight points with 6:04
left in the period on a layup by Nelson.
The Golden Eagles stormed onto the floor to open the second half,
quickly wiping out a five-point halftime deficit to tie the game
with a 6-1 run. Layups by Alfred Jones and Kevin Murphy made it a
10-1 run and Tech had its largest lead of the game at 43-39.
But Oakland, the overwhelming preseason favorite to win the Summit
Conference after posting 23 wins last year, took a page from the
Golden Eagle playbook. The Grizzlies used the transition game to
bounce back with a 14-0 run and regain the lead. A 3-pointer by
Cushingberry with 10 minutes remaining made it 55-45.
Oakland’s margin was double digits the balance of the
contest.
The Golden Eagles shot 38.7 percent from the field, dropping from
47 percent in the first half to 31.3 percent in the second. Tech
managed just two 3-pointers, going 2-for-12. Tech shot 42.9 percent
(6-for-14) at the free throw line.
Oakland hit 38 percent in the first half and 44 percent in the
second, finishing with a game mark of 41.4 percent. The Grizzlies
were 8-for-21 (38.1 percent) from long range and hit 70 percent
(21-for-30) at the charity line.
The Grizzlies held a 45-37 edge in rebounds.
Tech hits the road for its next two contests, playing first at
Southern Utah Wednesday night with an 8 p.m. tipoff. After
Thanksgiving, the Golden Eagles visit No. 1 Kansas on Friday night
with a 7 p.m. start. That game can be seen on ESPN Full Court.
Tech’s next home date is Tuesday (Dec. 1) when the Evansville
Purple Aces invade Eblen Center at 7 p.m.
Season and individual game tickets are on sale at the Athletics
Ticket Office in Eblen Center or by calling (931) 372-3940. Tickets
may also be ordered online at TTUsports.com.
NOTES: Oakland is the second conference pick on the Golden Eagle
schedule in a week after the Tech downed A-Sun favorite Lipscomb
last week…Tech will face its third league favorite Friday
when it plays at Kansas State, ranked No. 1 nationally and picked
to capture the Big 12 conference crown.
