Oregon-Oakland, Mich. Preview

12/21/2007 6:13 PM

By KATE HEDLIN
STATS Writer

Before becoming Oregon's top two scorers this season, Malik Hairston and Tajuan Porter were teammates that led Renaissance High School in Detroit a state title.

The two return to the Detroit area Saturday as the No. 23 Ducks take on Oakland at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Saturday's game is the first time both players have played in the Detroit area together since high school. Hairston and Porter, who lead the Ducks at 17.4 and 17.2 points per game, respectively, lived in the city and won a 2004 Michigan Class B state title as teammates. Porter also led their high school to a 2006 state crown after Hairston, who was a McDonald's All-American, had graduated.

The Ducks hope the return home works in their favor as they try to rebound from a frustrating 88-79 overtime loss at Nebraska last Saturday. Oregon had won four straight going into the game, but it shot a season-low 42.4 percent from the field and scored its second-fewest points of the season.

Porter had 29 points on 11-of-25 shooting to lead the Ducks, but after being fouled on a 3-pointer that tied the game, he missed the free throw with 9.1 seconds left in regulation.

Oregon matched a season-high with 18 turnovers and trailed by as many as 13 points in the second half. The Ducks did make a season-best 14 3-pointers, but it wasn't enough.

"We weren't ready to play, and we basically gave them the game," Porter said. "I give them credit for taking advantage. We didn't show up to play."

The Ducks, who are averaging 88.6 points per game to rank among the top five teams in the country, have five players scoring in double figures. Porter and Hairston, who had 25 points, didn't get much help from their teammates last Saturday, however. The other three starters combined for 16 points.

"I'm offensively skilled enough to make plays. It just didn't happen," said Maarty Leunen, who averages 14.7 points, but had just three in the loss before fouling out. "Every time I got the ball down low in the post, they would really swarm down with a couple guys. It made it tough to score around the basket."

The Ducks will be the third ranked opponent Oakland (5-6) has faced this year. The Golden Grizzlies played back-to-back games against Michigan State and Xavier last month. They lost 75-71 to the Spartans on Nov. 24 and 93-68 to the Musketeers four days later.

Oakland is coming off a 67-53 win over Division II Rochester College on Wednesday. The Golden Grizzlies outrebounded the Warriors 38-23 and had four starters score in double figures. Leading scorer Derick Nelson had 18 points while Dan Waterstradt added 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Oakland held the Warriors scoreless for more than seven minutes during a first-half stretch.

"I didn't think we played hard and it was good for us to see another team play like that," coach Greg Kampe said "It was good to get the win and I'm glad it's over."

This is the first meeting between Oregon and Oakland.