In a week culminated by a matchup between the league’s best on national TV, the Horizon League once again put forth a week of entertaining basketball. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until the final few minutes of the Oakland-Wright State tilt that the game became competitive, but the rest of the league’s absence made up for it. The defending champions are struggling, and the league’s worst team from a season ago is surging. The league is full of chaos, so here’s a recap of the week.
For most teams playing without their leading scorer for more than a game or two, things have a tendency to go south. Not for Wright State, however. Michael Cooper, who averages a team-best 15.4 points per game, has not played since the Raiders’ win over Oakland on Dec. 29.
Despite him missing four-consecutive games, Wright State has extended its win streak to six, picking up two major victories during a trip to Michigan. On Friday, it knocked off Detroit Mercy, who has been a pleasant surprise in the league this season, 84-82 in a contest in which five Raiders scored in double figures. Wright State held a 44-33 halftime lead, but the Titans stormed back and had a chance to tie at the buzzer, but didn’t get a shot off, sealing the Raiders’ win.
On Sunday, in a nationally-televised collision of the two teams tied atop the league standings, Wright State jumped all over Oakland in Rochester. The Raiders led 24-7 at the under-12 timeout in the first half and grew the lead to as much as 28 in the second period. Solomon Callaghan was the star Sunday, scoring 27 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field, knocking down six of his nine 3-point attempts, but his efficiency was contagious. Wright State shot 59% from the field as a team and 50% from three, showcasing its efficient offense even without its leading scorer. The Raiders look all the part of a team that could win the league right now.
After falling to Wright State, Oakland slid into a tie for second place in the standings with none other than Doug Gottlieb’s Green Bay Phoenix. After being the laughingstock of college basketball a season ago, Green Bay, behind only Wright State, is the hottest team in the conference. The Phoenix have won four-consecutive contests and five-straight Horizon League matchups.
In the comforts of the Kress Center for three games last week, Green Bay handled business, although the success was not stress-free. On Monday, against in-state rival Milwaukee, the Phoenix started hot, leading by as many as 21 in the first half, closing the half with a 46-32 lead. Eventually, Milwaukee clawed back and took a lead, but Green Bay responded and closed the game with a stop at the buzzer. Justin Allen had 21 and C.J. O’Hara pitched in 19 to lead the way in a game where Marcus Hall struggled offensively.
On Friday, the veteran point guard Preston Ruedinger poured in 24 points as the Phoenix controlled the game the entire way in a 75-59 win over IU Indianapolis. To close the week, it was another game which took years off the lives of Phoenix fans. Once again, Green Bay’s offense looked unstoppable early, leading by as many as 19 in the first half against Northern Kentucky. Donovan Oday’s 31 points were nearly enough for a Norse comeback, but Allen had 27 for the Phoenix, and Hall added 13 along with nine assists. Between a rivalry win, handling an inferior opponent and taking down a contender in the league, Gottlieb’s bunch did what it should and more last week.
Purdue Fort Wayne is another squad which had a productive week, snagging two road wins. The Mastodons have now won three straight after a winless trip to Wisconsin. On Wednesday, Corey Hadnot II had 14 points, including go ahead free throws in the final minutes, and Cris Carroll missed a game-winning 3-point attempt as Purdue Fort Wayne left Youngstown with a 71-69 win. On Sunday, in the house of the defending champs, Hadnot, Mikale Stephenson and DeAndre Craig Jr. combined for 47 points to overcome Ryan Prather Jr.‘s 20 points for Robert Morris to win 79-74. The backcourt trio continues to produce for Jon Coffman as the Mastodons eye the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth.
While the showing on a national stage against Wright State was not at all what Oakland had hoped, the Golden Grizzlies remain a top-tier contender in the league and even showed that down the stretch in Sunday’s loss. On Friday, all five starters and Brett White II off the bench scored in double figures, with Ziare Wells leading all scorers with 23 in a 97-74 over Cleveland State. Brody Robinson set the table for his teammates all night, adding a 13-point, 10-assist double-double. On Sunday, the zone was picked apart by Wright State, but there were some positives. Robinson scored a career-high 35 points and Oakland rallied from 28-down to cut the lead to single digits, but it couldn’t overcome the hole it dug for itself. It was a disappointing loss, but there were still things to build on as Greg Kampe’s bunch looks to get back to the Big Dance.
Despite Sunday’s loss at Green Bay, Northern Kentucky left its Wisconsin trip with a quality win and continues to stay near the top of the league standings. As winners of three-straight games heading into Friday’s game at Milwaukee, the Norse dominated the first half, leading 55-37 at the break and holding steady to win 85-67. While the guards often get the spotlight for Northern Kentucky, it was Kael Robinson who had 29 points to lead the dominant victory. Even in the loss on Sunday, the Norse showed a ton of fight which is never a negative. Now at 5-3 in league play, Northern Kentucky remains in striking distance as a contender.
The preseason favorite, Milwaukee, closed the week on a high note after the losses to Green Bay and Northern Kentucky. Amar Augillard was a force for the Panthers on Sunday. He scored 28 points, alongside his backcourt running mate Josh Dixon who added 20. Aaron Franklin set the tone on the glass with a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double, with six rebounds coming on the offensive end. Danilo Jovanovich, who has been key in filling the void left behind by Seth Hubbard’s injury, was out Sunday, and Milwaukee responded appropriately. Bart Lundy will continue to look for offense from a number of players if his group is going to play for a championship and Sunday’s game was a good step in the right direction.
