OU defeats YSU, 87-81

OU+senior+guard+Travis+Bader+spots+up+in+a+game+from+earlier+this+year.+Bader+led+the+Golden+Grizzlies+with+33+points+against+the+Penguins%2C+18+of+which+came+from+3-point+range.

OU senior guard Travis Bader spots up in a game from earlier this year. Bader led the Golden Grizzlies with 33 points against the Penguins, 18 of which came from 3-point range.

Oakland University men’s basketball (12-19, 7-9 Horizon) solidified the No.6 seed in the Horizon League Tournament after defeating the Youngstown State Penguins (15-16, 6-10) 87-81 Saturday night on the road.

The Golden Grizzlies will rematch the Penguins at home Tuesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. as they attempt a three-game season sweep of Youngstown State in the opening round of the tourney.

The winner of tonight’s game was guaranteed to host the other in the opening round of the tournament.

OU senior guard Travis Bader and junior center Corey Petros carried the Grizzlies offensively, combining for 56 of Oakland’s 87 points.

Bader had 33 points, including six 3-pointers, while Petros scored 23 and grabbed 13 rebounds. Petros shot 11-of-14 (79 percent) from the field.

Penguins senior guard Kendrick Perry led the team with 30 points. Perry also totaled five rebounds and eight assists.

While the two teams finished with little differences in almost all major statistical categories, free throws proved monumental in Oakland’s victory. The Grizzlies went 17-of-23 from the line while the Penguins went an abysmal 11-of-19, points that were clearly needed in the six-point loss.

An Oakland win over Youngstown State on Tuesday, March 4 in the opening round of the Horizon League Tournament would send the team to Green Bay to face Wright State, who the Grizzlies are 0-2 against this season.