Oakland used a 21-6 run in the second half to pull away from Valparaiso and pull within one game of the Crusaders atop the Horizon League standings. Martez Walker led the Golden Grizzlies with 23 points and Jalen Hayes posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. UIC earned a road win at Detroit Mercy in a back-and-forth contest that saw the lead change hands 19 times. Tarkus Ferguson scored 20 points to pace the Flames.
at Oakland 82, Valparaiso 71*
ROCHESTER, Mich. (AP) - Martez Walker scored 23 points and Oakland beat Horizon League leader Valparaiso 82-71 on Friday night to move within a game of first place in the league standings.
Oakland (20-7, 10-4 Horizon League) has won five straight. Valparaiso (21-6, 11-3) has lost two of its last four games since having its eight-game win streak snapped.
The game was tied at 34 early in the second half. Oakland used a 21-6 run for a 55-40 lead with 13 minutes to play. Walker converted a 3-point play, hit a 3 and had eight points during the stretch. The Crusaders pulled to 60-52 with 8:26 left but didn't get closer.
MBB Pages: Oakland | Valparaiso
UIC 74, at Detroit Mercy 69*
DETROIT – In a wild game that featured 19 lead changes it was UIC that was left standing with a 74-69 victory over Detroit Mercy at Calihan Hall Friday night.
A pair of guards, Tarkus Ferguson and Dominique Matthews, paced the Flames (14-13, 7-7 Horizon League) with 20 and 19 points, respectively. The pair combined to make eight shots from beyond the arc with Ferguson sinking a career-high four 3-pointers on eight attempts. Clint Robinson helped out with eight points and eight rebounds in 12 hard minutes off the bench. The Montego Bay, Jamaica, native registered six of his eight boards on the offensive end.
UIC was strong defensively, especially down the stretch. The squad blocked a season-high 12 shots led by five from Tai Odiase. The Flames held the Titans to a mark of 32.3 percent from the floor in the game and to only two field goals in the final four minutes of action.
MBB Pages: UIC | Detroit Mercy
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
F18 Green Bay at Milwaukee* 2:00 PM TWC/ESPN3
F18 Wright State at Cleveland State* 3:30 PM TWC/ESPN3
F18 Northern Kentucky at Youngstown State* 7:00 PM ESPN3
F19 Valparaiso at Detroit Mercy* 2:00 PM ESPN3
F19 UIC at Oakland* 3:00 PM ESPN3
THIS WEEK’S RESULTS
F16 Northern Kentucky 62, at Cleveland State 60*
F16 Wright State 84, at Youngstown State 81*
F17 UIC 74, at Detroit Mercy 69*
F17 at Oakland 82, Valparaiso 71*
*Horizon League game
Tags: All Teams - Men's Basketball · Horizon League - Men's Basketball · Oakland - Men's Basketball · UIC - Men's Basketball
