Michigan
Oakland
Jones Keys Michigan's 82-62 Season-Opening Victory
11/19/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
In the much-awaited debut of Michigan's five freshmen, it was a sophomore who stole the show as Leon Jones (Battle Creek, Mich./Winchendon Prep) led the Wolverines with a career-high 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including 3-of-7 from three-point range. Jones, who hit shots at key moments of the game for the Wolverines, also grabbed five rebounds and dished out three assists.
In addition to Jones, Michigan (1-0) received balanced contributions, shooting .533 as a team to the Grizzlies' .344 and outrebounding Oakland by a 49-27 margin. Five Wolverines scored in double figures, paced by Jones' 22 points and 21 from freshman Jamal Crawford (Renton, Wash./Rainier Beach HS). Josh Asselin (Caro, Mich./Caro HS) added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Wolverines opened the game with a pair of freshmen knocking down three-point baskets, first Gavin Groninger (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield HS) and then LaVell Blanchard (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS). Oakland (0-1) countered with a trey of its own by Brad Buddenborg. When Jones drained a three-pointer with 14:29 remaining in the half, the Wolverines had built a 14-4 advantage. Michigan capped the 15-0 run with Groninger converting a wide open layup from a pass by Blanchard off an inbounds play, staking the Wolverines to a 21-4 lead with 11:45 remaining.
Oakland tried to counter over the next seven minutes, but the Wolverines kept pushing. The Grizzlies hit just two baskets in the next eight minutes as Michigan extended its lead to 31-8 with 7:35 remaining. The Maize and Blue continued to build its lead with another Jones three-pointer to put the Wolverines up 38-8 with 5:20 left in the first half.
Oakland turned the tide late in the first half, closing the period with an 11-4 run, the teams headed to the break with Michigan holding a commanding 42-19 lead.
The Grizzlies opened the second half with eight quick points, but the Wolverines again countered with three-pointers from Crawford and Groninger. Oakland cut the Michigan lead to nine points, 48-39, with a 14-0 run in the early stages of the second half.
However, the young Wolverines withstood the charge. A Blanchard dunk stopped Oakland's momentum as the Wolverines settled down, stretching the lead back out to 20 points, 69-49, with 7:39 remaining. The margin remained consistent throughout the final stages of the game, and Michigan closed with its first win, 82-62.
Michigan next returns to action on Tuesday (Nov. 23) when it hosts intrastate rival Detroit at 7:30 p.m. in Crisler Arena. The Wolverines defeated the Titans last season 62-55 in Ann Arbor.
Contact: Tom Wywrot (734) 763-4423
