7:02 pm
March 9

Horizon League Tournament: Oakland v. Cleveland State

Who will WIN the championship?

Oakland Golden Grizzlies (12-17)

Cleveland State Vikings (18-7)

 

Current odds:

Oakland Golden Grizzlies: (+135)

Cleveland State Vikings: (-155)

 

• The line for this game is Cleveland State by 2.5 points.

• The Golden Grizzlies are coming off a dominant 69-58 victory over two-time defending champion Northern Kentucky in the semifinals of the Horizon League Championship. Oakland led for over 36 minutes in the contest and never trailed in the second half en route to a double-digit win. The upperclassman trio of Daniel Oladapo, Rashad Williams, and Jalen Moore combined for 50 points (72% offense) in the victory.

• The Oakland defense was in full display, as they held the Norse to 33.3% shooting (23-of-69) from the field, including 23.3% (7-of-30) from beyond the arc. Marques Warrick, the League’s Freshman of the Year, was limited to 3-of-15 shooting and eight points in the game.

• CSU swept OU during regular-season play at the Athletics Center O’rena. Both games were decided by eight or fewer points, including an 80-78 contest in the series closer.

• Senior forward Torrey Patton leads the Vikings averaging 14.6 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Viking guard Craig Beaudion has added 9.5 points and a team-high 3.4 assists per game. Tre Gomillion (10.3 ppg) and D’Moi Hodge (10.3 ppg) have also contributed to the CSU offense.

• CSU earned the No. 1 seed in the Horizon League Championship bracket after finishing the regular season 17-4 against Horizon League opponents. However, the Vikings closed conference play with series splits against Detroit Mercy and Purdue Fort Wayne.

• Oakland has won 12 of its last 20 games after an 0-9 start to the season. OU’s non-conference schedule featured four-straight Power-5 schools in Michigan (11/29), Purdue (12/1), Oklahoma State (12/5), and Michigan State (12/13), along with three schools top-50 in the current NCAA NET rankings. Eight of Oakland’s 29 games have been against teams top-100 in the NET rankings.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Cleveland State Vikings
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