1 | 2 | T | |
---|---|---|---|
OAK | 37 | 41 | 78 |
WMU | 40 | 33 | 73 |
Walker scores 32, helps Oakland hold off W. Michigan 78-73
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Martez Walker scored 32 points and sank a pair of clinching free throws with 5.2 seconds left as Oakland fended off a Western Michigan rally to defeat the Broncos 78-73 on Saturday in an intense meeting of the preseason favorites of their respective conferences.
Walker matched his career-best scoring, making five 3-pointers and 7 of 8 at the line in 40 minutes. Horizon League favorite Oakland (5-3) rallied from 10 points down early in the first half to lead by 14, 69-55, with eight minutes to play.
Mid-American Conference favorite Western Michigan reeled off 11 unanswered points with Thomas Wilder scoring seven his 24 points and two steals as the Broncos closed to 69-66 with 4:53 remaining.
Walker stemmed the momentum with a 3-pointer. Western Michigan (5-5) attempted a game-tying 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left, but a kickout pass to Wilder in corner was determined to have gone out of bounds off of him -- after a lengthy review reversed the original call. Walker was fouled and, despite two timeouts, made both free throws to clinch it.
Oakland's high-scoring Kendrick Dunn (23 ppg) was held to 14, playing with four fouls. Reggie Jones scored 14 and Drake Lamont 12 for Western Michigan.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Frank Spencer
- Bryan Anslinger
- Geoff Vejsicky
2023-24 Horizon League Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Oakland | 15-5 | - | 24-12 |
Youngstown State | 14-6 | 1 | 22-10 |
Green Bay | 13-7 | 2 | 18-14 |
Wright State | 13-7 | 2 | 18-14 |
Milwaukee | 12-8 | 3 | 20-15 |
Northern Kentucky | 12-8 | 3 | 18-15 |
Purdue Fort Wayne | 11-9 | 4 | 23-13 |
Cleveland State | 11-9 | 4 | 21-15 |
Robert Morris | 6-14 | 9 | 10-22 |
IUPUI | 2-18 | 13 | 6-26 |
Detroit Mercy | 1-19 | 14 | 1-31 |
2023-24 Mid-American Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Toledo | 14-4 | - | 20-12 |
Akron | 13-5 | 1 | 24-11 |
Ohio | 13-5 | 1 | 20-13 |
Central Michigan | 12-6 | 2 | 18-14 |
Bowling Green | 10-8 | 4 | 20-14 |
Miami (OH) | 9-9 | 5 | 15-17 |
Western Michigan | 9-9 | 5 | 12-20 |
Kent State | 8-10 | 6 | 17-17 |
Ball State | 7-11 | 7 | 15-16 |
Eastern Michigan | 6-12 | 8 | 13-18 |
Northern Illinois | 5-13 | 9 | 11-20 |
Buffalo | 2-16 | 12 | 4-27 |