Post Game: Oakland

Hey all, sorry I keep falling behind but we'll be back on the road this week and I should be a lot better about posting...

Anyway, this Oakland game ended up being a tough loss 74-70 in double OT, our second loss in double OT of the season.  Western actually had a chance to win the game in regulation.  They had the ball with under 22 seconds left in a tie game but were unable to get off a good shot, resulting in the overtime sessions.  After a back and forth first overtime, Oakland was able to build a four point lead in the second overtime after Travis Bader hit a three pointer right at the end of the shot clock on what could only be called a miracle shot and that ended up being the dagger for WIU.  The loss dropped our record to 13-9 and 7-6 in the conference while Oakland mproved to 13-13 and 7-7 in the conference.

Some final stats, WIU finished the game shooting 44% on 24 of 54 shooting on the floor.  That included going 7 of 18 from behind the arc.  They shot just 60% at the free throw line, that really hurt them because they cold have had a chance to have the lead late in the game had they made their free throws.  Neither team shot very well at the free throw line.  The Leathernecks only committed 9 turnovers in the game, 8 of which were in the first half.  That means that they only committed ONE turnover in the entire second half and overtime which is INSANELY good ball handling. 

Ceola Clark finished with 22 points on 8 of 14 shooting, including being 5 of 9 from three.  He also pulled in 7 boards and had 5 assists with only one turnover.  His assist to turnover ratio in the past two games has be 15 to 2, which is pretty darn good to say the least.  Obi Emegano has 18 points on 6 of 12 shooting.  He was about the only Leatherneck who was consistent at the free throw as he was 6 for 6.  Two more guys hit in double figures, those guys were Tommie Tyler with 11 and Terell Parks with 10.  Tommie Tyler just 6 of 13 at the free throw line, which was really odd for him because he usually makes about 70% of his free throws.  Parks was in foul trouble most of the game and actually fouled out in the first overtime.  Him not being able to go 100% most of the game really hurt this team, but I thought David Gebru did a good job stepping up when they asked him to.

Oakland finished shooing 43% on 24 of 55 shooting and made 14 three pointers.  It was incredible some of the threes that they made.  They made just 46% of their free throws which is just not very good, especially considering they usually make about 73% of them as a team.  Even their best player Reggie Hamilton, who usually makes just over 90% of his free throws, only made 5 of his 9 attempts (not that that hurt his numbers).  They also committed 14 turnovers.

All of their scoring came from just four players.  Hamilton scored 40 points (yes, 40) on 13 of 24 shooting.  He made 9 of his 14 three pointers.  To say he was on fire is an understatement.  Bader ended up with 19 points on 6 of 14 shooting and made 4 of 10 three points, including the miracle three in the second overtime.  The other two guys who scored for Oakland were Drew Valentine with 10 and Lavel Lucas-Perry with 5.

Like I said about Hamilton, to say he was on fire is an understatement.  He was making just about everything he threw up at the basket.  The man guarding him was our best defender, and one of the best in the conference, Ceola Clark.  It wasn't that Ceola did a bad job guarding him, he was right there to defend basically every shot.  Hamilton, who is one of the best players in the conference, was just playing one of, if not his best game of the season.  He could not miss.  It's tough to win against this team when he plays like that.  I though Ceola played like a hero.  He made so many big shots and refused to let his team give up.  This whole team played their hearts out, but in the end you can't shoot 60% at the free throw line and expect to beat a good team like Oakland.  It's tough for me to see these guys lose a game like this because I know how much work they put in.  Hopefully they can learn from this game and get back on track Thursday when we travel to play Southern Utah.

That'll be all for now, I should be better about posting once we get on the road so look for more soon!