Friday’s basketball: Oakland sweeps series from Northern Kentucky
Highland Heights, Ky. — Sherron Dorsey-Walker scored 21 points and had nine rebounds and Oakland beat Northern Kentucky 79-70 on Friday night.
Jalen Hayes added 19 points and 11 rebounds and Martez Walker 17 points for the Golden Grizzlies (15-5, 5-2 Horizon), who shot 52 percent in each half though only making 3 of 14 3-pointers. They also beat the Norse on Dec. 31, 70-65.
The Norse (12-8, 3-4), who lost their third straight for the first time this season, were led by Carson Williams with 19 points. Lavone Holland added 12 points and Drew McDonald 11 points and 11 rebounds.
NKU came back from a 17-point deficit to lead 42-38 at halftime. Oakland edged ahead with 8:25 left in the game and built a 73-62 lead on Nick Daniels’ basket with a minute to go.
Northern Kentucky announced before the game that freshman guard Blake Spellman has been “released from the … team in order to be close to home and focus on personal matters.” Nelson played in 11 games, averaging 2.3 points and 1.3 rebounds.
More state men
(At) Wright State 106, Detroit Mercy 88: Steven Davis had 27 points and eight rebounds, and Grant Benzinger and Justin Mitchell added 22 points each for the Raiders (13-7, 4-3 Horizon), who kept their lead between 16 and 28 points throughout the second half. The Titans (4-15, 2-5) stayed close for the opening 10 minutes but Wright State closed the half with a 35-12 run to lead 60-38.
Benzinger grabbed nine rebounds, handed out five assists and made 5 of 8 from 3-point range. Mitchell added seven boards and seven assists.
Josh McFolley had 25 points to lead Detroit. Corey Allen added 18 points and Chris Jenkins scored 13, though both fouled out.
Detroit shot nearly as well as Wright State but had 20 turnovers and got outscored at the foul line 33-17.
The Raiders made 33 of their 45 free throws.
(At) Akron 70, Eastern Michigan 63: Isaiah Johnson scored 21 points and Akron remained undefeated in Mid-American Conference play, setting a school-record home win streak. Antino Jackson added 11 points for the Zips (16-3, 5-1), who won their 27th straight at James A. Rhodes Arena, the third-longest active home win streak behind Kansas (52) and Oregon (36).
Noah Robotham and Kwan Cheatham hit 3-pointers and Jackson added a bucket for an 8-0 Akron lead. The Zips remained in front, leading 38-28 at halftime behind nine points from Johnson.
A Robotham 3-pointer gave Akron a 15-point lead with 7 1/2 minutes remaining but the Eagles (12-7, 4-2) got within four with 1 1/2 minutes left after a bucket by Ty Toney. But that was the game’s last field goal and Akron outscored EMU 5-2 at the line from there.
Toney finished with 17 points, Willie Magnum 13 and Baylee Steele 10.
State women
(At) Detroit Mercy 80, Youngstown State 63: Rosanna Reynolds scored 24, Brianne Cohen 18 and Brittney Jackson 12 for Detroit Mercy (9-9, 5-2 Horizon). Alison Smolinski scored 20 for Youngstown State (7-11, 3-4).
Cleveland State 74, (at) Oakland 62: Cleveland State (10-8, 6-2 Horizon) took control of what had been a close game with an 18-4 fourth quarter. Khayla Livingston scored 28 and Olivia Voskuhl 16 for the Vikings. Hannah Little scored 17 and Leah Somerfield 13 for Oakland (9-9, 3-4).