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Local Sports

Thursday, December 03, 2009

College Basketball: UF set to open GLIAC on road
Interstate Court Plaza - Findlay - I-75 Exit #159
By BRIAN LESTER

STAFF WRITER

Midway through the first half against Lake Erie last week, junior forward Michael Agunga stole the ball to break up a fast break.

It wasn't long before Nathan Hyde was on the other end of the floor driving into the lane for a layup as the University of Findlay ran away to an 84-56 win over the Storm.

The sequence highlights one of the reasons the ninth-ranked Oilers have thrived during a 3-1 start.

Not only have they forced 78 turnovers, but they have capitalized on the misfortune of opponents, scoring 78 points off of those mistakes.

"We have a disadvantage in certain areas, particularly with our height inside," Agunga said. "But because we are smaller, we can pressure teams more. We focus on getting steals and scoring points off of turnovers."

Veteran UF head coach Ron Niekamp, now in his 25th season, has always made defense a trademark of UF basketball.

This UF team, despite its youth, is blessed with quickness and athleticism, which has allowed it to generate a great deal of offense from its defense.

"A lot of times those turnovers can lead to easy baskets, and that picks up the energy of the team," Niekamp said. "But we have to remember to stay sound on defense, only take advantage of the opportunities when they are there."

Playing solid defense will take on added importance when the defending NCAA Division II national champions hit the road for its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener.

The Oilers face Saginaw Valley State (3-1) at 8 p.m. today at James O'Neill Arena and will be gunning for their 35th consecutive regular-season GLIAC win.

Shooting effectively on the road can be a daunting task, but the effort the Oilers give on defense is something they can control.

"It's all about hustle and heart," Agunga said. "We know our shots aren't always going to fall, and we can't do much about that. But we can play hard on defense for 40 minutes. We have to play that way if we want to compete for a GLIAC championship."

SVSU was just 9-17 overall and 9-13 in the league last year, but expectations are much higher.

The Cardinals, picked to finish fifth in the North Division, have looked like a contender behind the play of Keithan Jackson, a junior forward from Grand Rapids Community College.

Jackson is averaging 17.5 points and 13.8 rebounds per game. He was just named the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week and has registered three double-doubles.

But while Jackson has been the featured player on an SVSU team that averages 73.8 points per outing, three other players have played a big role as well.

Avery Stephenson, a preseason all-GLIAC selection, is averaging 14.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5 assists. Senior forward Adam Gries is averaging 6.3 points and has blocked 7 shots. Sophomore forward Greg Foster is scoring 16.8 ppg and has tallied 10 steals.

"They have quality players on the team, and Jackson was the missing piece to the puzzle," Niekamp said. "The experience of being in their second year under (coach Frankie Smith) has helped, too. They have an understanding of the system and what it takes to win in this league."

The Cardinals are coming off an 82-77 overtime loss to Urbana on Monday night at home. They have allowed 62.2 points per outing and have forced 58 turnovers.

Senior guard Marcus Parker and Hyde, a junior guard, lead the Oilers in scoring at 13 ppg.

This will be the Oilers' first game after an extended layoff. They haven't played since last Tuesday and will wrap up their trip Saturday with a 3 p.m. GLIAC encounter against Lake Superior State (1-3) at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

"We needed the rest, but at the same time, it can be tough to get back into the flow of things," Niekamp said. "We've worked hard in practice to get ready for two GLIAC games, and we know finding road wins are important if we want to fight for a conference title."

UF Women 4-0

The Oilers will play their first conference game on Thursday as well. UF (4-0) will take on SVSU (2-2) at 6 p.m.

The Oilers swept the season series against the Cardinals last year and are averaging a league-best 87.2 points per game. UF has been sharp defensively as well, allowing only 53 points per outing.

Sophomore guard Laura Bardall leads the team in scoring (16.5 ppg) and she has dished out 23 assists and tallied 11 steals.


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