Friday’s college basketball: Oakland downs Northern Kentucky
Highland Heights, Ky. — Kendrick Nunn scored 19 of his 33 points in the second half and Oakland never trailed on its way to an 83-70 win over Northern Kentucky on Friday night.
The loss dropped the Norse (14-7, 7-2 Horizon) out of first place in the league standings, one game behind Wright State (8-1).
Nunn, who finished 6 of 13 from 3-point range, scored five of the Grizzlies’ points during a 10-2 run that made it 71-59 with four minutes to go. The Norse ran it back to 73-66 on Jordan Garnett’s 3-pointer with 2:38 left, but Oakland made 8 of 10 free throws in the final two minutes and Nunn punctuated the victory with a dunk as time ran out.
Jalen Hayes added 21 points, Martez Walker scored 11 and Isaiah Brock had eight points and 11 rebounds for Oakland (14-8, 6-3).
Drew McDonald had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Mason Faulkner scored 15 and Dantez Walton 13 for Northern Kentucky.
More state men
(At) Wright State 87, Detroit Mercy 55: Grant Benzinger scored 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting to help Wright State dominate Detroit Mercy.
Loudon Love and Everett Winchester added 15 points apiece, Cole Gentry had 12 points and Jaylon Hall 10 for Wright State, which shot 56 percent and got 16 assists on its 32 baskets. Benzinger had four of the Raiders’ eight 3-pointers.
Wright State (16-6, 8-1 Horizon) raced out to a 23-5 lead midway through the first half and took a 41-28 advantage into the break. Benzinger got three of his 3-pointers during the run. The Raiders continued to pull away in the second half.
Kameron Chatman scored 24 points with 8-of-13 shooting and had six rebounds to lead Detroit Mercy (6-16, 2-7), which has lost 14 of its last 16 games.
UConn investigated
The University of Connecticut is the target of an NCAA investigation into its men’s basketball program. University president Susan Herbst said in a statement the school will cooperate in a “thorough and transparent manner reflective of the model athletic and academic institution we continually strive to be.”
The university didn’t specify the allegations and said it would have no further comment, but Hearst Connecticut Media, cited unidentified sources saying the inquiry was related to recruiting.
The school said it had begun an NCAA mandated internal review of the men’s basketball program this fall amid an FBI investigation into alleged corruption in college basketball. The focus of the federal probe has been on arrangements made between assistant coaches, shoe companies and financial advisers.
Coach Kevin Ollie is now in his sixth season as coach and in the second year of a five-year $17.9-million contract that can be voided for “just cause,” including NCAA violations.