2008 Woodie Awards
Watson legendary against Oakland
Mark McKeown
Issue date: 2/10/04 Section: Sports
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"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
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
