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Grizzlies get revenge against YSU men
Oakland pays YSU
back for
upset
By Steve WILAJ
YOUNGSTOWN
It was exactly one month to the day — Youngstown State’s two-point upset win at Oakland on Jan. 4. And it was the exact thing on the Grizzlies’ minds on Thursday at Beeghly Center.
“We definitely had that in the back of our heads today,” said Kay Felder, Oakland’s nationally recognized point guard. “We wanted to make sure we get this one because of what they did to us at our place.”
No doubt, the Grizzlies got their revenge.
Routed by Oakland, YSU fell, 107-85, in a game that was decided soon after it started. The Penguins dropped to 9-15 overall and 4-7 in the Horizon League, while Oakland improved to 16-8, 8-3.
Felder, who entered third in the nation in points per game (25.6) and first in the country in assists per game (8.8), led the Grizzlies with 17 points, 14 assists and six rebounds.
“Our plan wasn’t to blow them out,” Felder said. “It was just to send a statement because, last time, they sent a statement. So we wanted to send it back and stick with our game plan and we did that tonight.”
YSU won at Oakland, 100-98, a month ago when center Jordan Kaufman tipped in the game-winning layup with just a second remaining. Not only did Kaufman go scoreless this time around, but it was a totally different outcome for the Penguins altogether.
“We’re obviously disappointed that we lost, but I’m much more disappointed in the effort tonight,” YSU head coach Jerry Slocum said. “I thought we showed very little heart and that our first half was horrific at the defensive end.”
In falling behind 53-34 at the half, YSU shot 41 percent from the field — and, uncharacteristically, just 0 for 3 from behind the arc. Meanwhile, Oakland went 19 of 37 from the field in the opening period, as well as 9 of 10 at the foul line.
The Grizzlies then built their lead to 25 points just three minutes into the second half and never looked back.
Oakland head coach Greg Kampe said his team’s game plan was to eliminate YSU’s 3-point game. That’s exactly what happened, as the Penguins — who made 16 3’s in the first meeting — went just 5 of 10 from behind the arc.
“We said we would give up that elbow jump shot, but not give them any 3’s,” Kampe said. “I thought our team executed a game plan as perfectly as you could. We took the 3 away — and we can score. We do it against everybody.”
Oakland finished at 53 percent from the field, as six players finished in double figures. Max Hooper and Percy Gibson each scored 16 points.
Cam Morse led YSU with 23 points and Francisco Santiago scored 22, but the Penguins — who shot 46 percent — couldn’t keep up.
“That was their game plan, but how many open looks did we have inside the elbow?” Slocum said. “Over and over and over. We should have shot 65 percent tonight.”
Felder, who has been selected to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 List and is a top-10 finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, shot 6 of 12 from the floor. The 5-foot-9 point guard’s highlight reel included a high-flying two-handed slam off of a long alley-oop.
His matchup with Morse pitted the conference’s top two scorers against each other.
“I don’t really go for 1-on-1 matchups,” Felder said. “I’m more of a team-guy. But both of us played a heck of a game. [Morse] is a good player. Scorers score.”