#HLMBB Roundup: Dec. 28
Lance Rinker
(Dec. 28, 2017) — Oakland’s Kendrick Nunn and Green Bay’s Sandy Cohen III each matched career-high point totals on Thursday night to help lead their respective clubs to conference-opening wins. Nunn’s game-high 36 points helped the Golden Grizzlies earn their third-consecutive victory, with Oakland besting host Milwaukee, 76-68. Meanwhile, Cohen (24 points) was one of Green Bay players to score in double figures as the Phoenix improved to 6-2 at home with a 95-83 win over Detroit Mercy. UDM freshman point guard, Jermaine Jackson Jr., tallied a career-high 25 points in the setback, connecting on seven of 11 attempts from 3-point range.
Fueled by 57 percent shooting, Northern Kentucky improved to 6-0 at home with a 77-59 win over IUPUI, with senior Drew McDonald leading all scorers with a season-high 27 points (11-16 FG). McDonald’s 27-point, 10-rebound performance marked his fifth double-double and fifth game scoring 20 or more points this season.
In the night’s opening contest, three Wright State upperclassmen — Justin Mitchell, Mark Hughes, and Grant Benzinger — scored in double figures to lead the Raiders to a 65-61 win over visiting UIC. Wright State was outshot 43 percent to 33 percent, but forced 20 UIC turnovers, leading to a +11 margin for field goal attempts. The Raiders have posted a 9-2 record since beginning the season 0-3.
TODAY’S RESULTS (Thursday, Dec. 28)
at Wright State 65, UIC 61
at Northern Kentucky 77, IUPUI 59
at Green Bay 95, Detroit Mercy 83
Oakland 76, at Milwaukee 68
Raiders open league play with a "W"
(Courtesy of WSURaiders.com) —
DAYTON, Ohio — The Wright State men's basketball team opened the Horizon League schedule Thursday night with a 65-61 win over UIC. Three Raiders scored in double figures, led by Justin Mitchell with 14 points. Mark Hughes added 13 while Grant Benzinger finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds. The Raiders scored 21 points off the 20 UIC turnovers.
Full recap
McDonald's double-double leads @NKUNorseMBB past IUPUI, 77-59
(Courtesy of NKUNorse.com) —
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — Nineteen-straight points in the first half, coupled with Drew McDonald's third-straight double-double, ushered in the Horizon League schedule for the Northern Kentucky men's basketball team with a 77-59 victory over IUPUI. The Norse improve to 8-5 on the season and 1-0 in league play, while the Jaguars slip to 3-9 overall (0-1 Horizon League).
Full recap
Green Bay starts Horizon League play with impressive, 95-83 win over Detroit Mercy
(Courtesy of GreenBayPhoenix.com) —
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Sandy Cohen III scored a career-high 24 points and four other players finished in double-figures for Green Bay, which picked up another Horizon League-opening victory on Thursday night at the Resch Center, 95-83 over Detroit Mercy. The Phoenix (6-8, 1-0 HL) scored a season-high in points against a Division I opponent and held off the visiting Titans (4-10, 0-1 HL) to open Horizon League play on the winning side for the fifth-straight season.
Full recap
Oakland holds off Milwaukee, 76-68, to open league play
(Courtesy of GoldenGrizzlies.com) —
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Kendrick Nunn matched a career high 36 points on 12 of 21 shooting and hit five three pointers as the Oakland men's basketball team held off Milwaukee 76-68 to open league play Thursday night at UWM Panther Arena. Nunn's 12 field goals made is a career high as the Golden Grizzlies are now 17-2 in its last 19 conference road games and improve to 4-1 in Horizon League openers.
Full recap
UPCOMING SLATE
Friday, Dec. 29
Cleveland State at No. 2 Michigan State (6:00 PM ET – Big Ten Network)
Youngstown State at Indiana (8:00 PM ET – Big Ten Network)
Saturday, Dec. 30
Oakland at Green Bay (1:00 PM ET – ESPN3)
IUPUI at Wright State (4:00 PM ET – ESPN3)
Detroit Mercy at Milwaukee (7:00 PM ET – ESPN3)
UIC at Northern Kentucky (7:00 PM ET – ESPN3)
Sunday, Dec. 31
No games
Monday, Jan. 1
Cleveland State at Youngstown State (1:00 PM ET – ESPN3)
MOTOR CITY MADNESS
The 2018 Little Caesars Horizon League Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championship will take place March 2-6 at the brand new Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich.
Tickets can be purchased now at campus box offices or at
HorizonLeague.com.
Little Caesars Arena is located in the heart of The District Detroit, a 50-block, mixed-use development that unites eight world-class theaters, five neighborhoods and three professional sports venues in one vibrant, walkable destination for people who want to live, work and play in an exciting urban environment. Home to the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons and Detroit Lions — The District Detroit represents the greatest density of professional sports teams in one downtown core in the country.