By Tim Rath

Maybe it’s something in the water of Macomb, Ill. that makes the Oakland University men’s basketball team play so well. 

Since 2002, every game on the road against Western Illinois has ended in triumph for the Golden Grizzlies.

Whatever the reason, the trend continued on Saturday as five Golden Grizzlies reached double figures in the 85-71 victory that snapped OU’s three-game losing streak. 

Junior forward Derick Nelson led the Grizzlies with a game high 18 points off of 6 for 9 shooting, and six rebounds.

Senior guard Brandon Cassise added 15 points, including making 3-4 from three-point range, and reached a new career high with eight assists. 

Redshirt freshman Keith Benson scored 14 points and blocked three shots, while sophomore guard Johnathon Jones tallied 11 points and eight assists.

Off the bench, junior Erik Kangas shot 3 for 3, scoring nine points, and freshman Tim Williams added 11.

OU’s season high 69 percent field goal percentage proved to be the difference maker, as the Grizzlies improved their record to 10-10 with the win. 

Although they never trailed, OU had the Leathernecks breathing down their necks in the second half, as a 6-0 run brought Western Illinois to within four points at 58-54. 

However, with 11:07 left on the clock, Kangas hit a 3-pointer that ended the rally and began an 11-2 run for the Golden Grizzlies. 

They never looked back. 

OU pushed the lead to as many as 19 after a pair of fast-break layups by redshirt junior Dan Waterstradt, cruising to the final tally of 85-71.

The victory helped salvage an otherwise unsuccessful road trip for the Grizzlies, who fell to IUPUI on Thursday by an 82-69 margin.

Kangas led OU in that game with a game high 20 points off the bench, and matched a season high with eight three-pointers. Nelson scored 12 points, all in the second half, and Jones added 10 points for the Grizzlies.

It wasn’t enough to compensate for the Jaguars’ 65 percent shooting night.

OU responded to a five-point deficit at the break with a 7-2 run over the first three minutes of the second half to tie the game at 40. 

The Jaguars responded with a 12-5 run to take a 52-45 lead with 10:10 on the clock, which the Grizzlies could not overcome.     

IUPUI head coach Ron Hunter coached the game barefoot to collect shoes for Samaritan’s Feet, a charity that provides shoes for those in need. The organization Soles4Soles answered the call by donating 40,000 pairs of shoes to Samaritan’s Feet. 

The Grizzlies return home on Thursday to play the South Dakota State Bisons at the O’Rena. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m.