Grizzlies cool off Mavs, end win streak

Justin Simmons scored 25 points, C.J. Carter netted 21 and John Karhoff added 14 points, but Omaha men's basketball fell 96-81 to Oakland on Saturday at the Ralston Arena.  The loss ended the Mavs’ three-game win streak and dropped their record to 8-17 (5-7 Summit League), while the Golden Grizzlies improve to 11-13 (6-4 Summit League).

After battling back and forth for most of the game, Oakland’s dominance in getting to the line proved to make the difference.  Omaha made all seven of their free throws, but the Grizzlies were 28-of-38 and drew 23 fouls compared to UNO’s 12.

Since Jan. 3, the Mavs had been one of the league’s best offenses, shooting above 50 percent in six of their last eight games and averaging 81 points.  The hot shooting continued, but Oakland was equally as potent, narrowly beating out UNO 52.5 to 52.3.

On the glass the Golden Grizzlies exploited one of the Mavs’ greatest weaknesses.  UNO loses the rebound battle by an average of over seven boards.

Saturday Oakland won the battle by just four, but the Grizzlies had 21 second chance points to the Mavs’ 21.

To start the game UNO made their first three 3-point attempts and went on a 8-0 run to get up to an early 17-9 lead.  But Oakland followed with eight straight of their own and tied the game 17-17 seven minutes it.

It was one of nine ties and eight lead changes in a back-and-forth first half.  Two straight baskets from Simmons and Carter ended the half with Omaha leading 47-43.

The second half played out much the same way with three ties and five lead changes.  UNO led 66-64 with 10:27 remaining, but the Grizzlies outscored the Mavs 32-15 the rest of the way.

Almost half of Oakland’s final 32 points (13) came from the line.

Four players scored in double figures for Oakland with Carey Petros leading the way with 28 points on 12-of-15 shooting from the field. Travis Bader, the nation’s leading 3-point shooter was held to 1-of-8 shooting from the 3-point line, but made up for it by going 13-14 from the foul line ending up with 24 points. Duke Mondy chipped in 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Drew Valentine added a double-double with 14 points and 18 rebounds.

Carter grabbed eight boards and five assists to go with his 21 points.

UNO is next at Western Illinois for a game against the Leathernecks 17-5, (9-2 Summit League) on Thursday.  WIU dropped the Mavs in the first matchup, 89-74 on Jan. 12.

Four players scored in double figures the last time out against the Leathernecks.  Simmons led with 18, Alex Phillips scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds, Carter had 12 and John Karhoff scored 10 to go with seven boards.