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WATSON BREAKS RECORD-Senior guard Michael Watson scored 40 points in UMKC´s win over Oakland and became the Mid-Con´s all-time leading scorer, with a career 2,290 points The court was not only warmed but was on fire with an 88-58 victory over the visiting Grizzlies last Saturday night at Municipal Auditorium.

Watson legendary against Oakland

By: Mark McKeown

Posted: 2/10/04

Senior guard Michael Watson only needed 36 points to become the Mid-Continent Conference's career points leader in men's basketball. On an electric Saturday night inside Municipal Auditorium, Watson gave his hometown crowd of 3,822 a superstar show with 40 points, scoring seven three-pointers, pulling down six rebounds, and draining 9-of-10 free throw attempts in UMKC's second-only win against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in 11 tries. The Roos won 88-58, and with his 2,290 career Mid-Con points, Watson surpassed Tony Bennett of Wisconsin-Green Bay, who scored 2,285 points from 1988 to 1992.

Watson, a graduate of Central High School here in Kansas City, scored his career-breaking points on one of those charity tries with just under five minutes left in the contest against Oakland University, the preseason Mid-Con favorite who beat the Kangaroos 82-67 up in Rochester, Mich. just last week. In that game, Watson hurt his left hand and tallied only 14 points. But this game was different.

This game was crucial to the Roos' conference hopes. And with their league mark at 5-4, the men needed a win before again stepping out on the road for three important contests that will decide their season. But tonight was a career night. And not just for Watson.

"This was more about our conference record," Watson said, deflecting attention from his legendary evening. "My player of the game is Blake Crawford."

Crawford, a freshman center from Blue Valley North, scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds in only his second career start. Before Saturday's second half, Crawford had tallied 16 total points for the year. His play after the break sparked his teammates, excited the Municipal crowd, and started the march toward the victory the Roos desperately needed.

"It's a huge win… definitely uplifting," Crawford said. "I just came out like I always do. I tried to move and get open looks."

Three straight open looks opened the second half as Crawford scored six consecutive UMKC points and led the Roos on a 12-2 run that ran the lead to 43-30. Oakland never got closer than 10 points behind for the rest of the game. The men closed out the first half leading 31-26. Also in the first frame, junior forward Corey Starks, making only his third start of the year, hauled in eight rebounds on the way to a career night of his own. Starks finished with 11 boards and 10 points for his first-ever double-double.

UMKC shot 61.1 percent from the floor, turned the ball over just twice and out-rebounded the Grizzlies 25-13 in the second half. They finished shooting 49.2 percent for the game, hit 18-of-20 from the free throw line, and owned the glass, out-rebounding OU, 47-28.

All this came with a new lineup implemented last Saturday in a 77-71 win over league leader Oral Roberts University (ORU) in Tulsa. Before that surprising win, Head Coach Rich Zvosek had started Watson, juniors Mike English and Carlton Aaron, senior guard Brandon Temple, and sophomore forward Brandon Lipsey in all but one game this season. Watson, Lipsey and Temple stayed, and on came Starks and Crawford.

The formula appears to be working, giving Aaron a mental boost with his own career night against ORU with 13 points and utilizing the powerful and energetic English, who picked up the pace coming off the bench with eight boards and 14 points against the Golden Eagles last weekend. Aaron and English factored little on Saturday, giving way to a memorable evening for Starks and Crawford against Oakland.

But the night really belonged to Watson, who was clearly relishing the victory but remained a consummate winner, again thinking of his team.

"This was a big conference win for our guys," he said after the triumph. His coach had other things to say concerning his star player and team leader.

"A lot of people don't understand what he did in staying here at home," Zvosek said. "He's a special kid."

A special kid on a special night he will likely never forget.

mmckeown@unews.com