Eastern Michigan vs. Oakland Final: EMU Notches Quality Win Over Oakland, 89-77

Karrington Ward, EMU's returning leading scorer, is expected to put up 20+ points per game. Raven Lee is not.

Lee, the sophomore guard from Detroit, went for a game high 24, including 7/7 at the free throw line. It was only the fifth game of his career in which he scored more than 20 points. The Lee-Ward duo helped Eastern Michigan overcome four Golden Grizzlies scoring in double figures and defeat non-conference and in-state foe Oakland at the Convocation Center.

Eastern Michigan had a big contribution from Ward, going for yet another double-double. The big performance by Lee combined with Mike Talley coming off the bench for eleven points and seven assists was too much for Oakland to stop.

Oakland was led by Corey Petros, who scored thirteen points and grabbed ten rebounds. Golden Grizzlies star guard Kahlil Felder had a well rounded game with fifteen points, nine assists and five rebounds, but the sturdy defense of EMU forced Felder to shoot an ineffective 5/19 from the floor. Junior guard Max Hooper was the top point man for the Golden Grizzlies, tying a career high with eighteen.

Adding a second scoring threat like Lee would add some danger to the Eastern Michigan attack and cement them as a dark horse to make a run in the MAC. With a powerful, focused defense already implemented on the team, more offense would help to supplement that type of defensive mindset.

The victory moves both teams in the same direction they started. Eastern Michigan moves to 2-0 with wins now over Oakland and Saint Francis. The Golden Grizzlies on the other hand drop to 0-2 with their losses coming at the hands of top 25 squad Iowa State and Eastern Michigan.

Oakland University Golden Grizzlies Key Players

C. Petros: 13 points, 10 rebounds, 6/8 from the field

K. Felder: 15 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds

M. Hooper: 18 points ties a career high.

Eastern Michigan Eagles Key Players

K. Ward: 22 points, 12 rebounds, 2 steals

R. Lee: 24 points, 3 assists, 7/7 FT

M. Talley: 11 points, 7 assists off the bench