JagBytes

Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Marcos Dominguez Austin Montgomery shoots a 3-pointer during the Jags' game against Oakland on Jan. 24.

Media Credit: Marcos Dominguez George Hill dunks the ball during the second half of the Jags' game against Oakland. The Jaguars won 82-69.

By the time they figured out they had to double team guard George Hill, it was too late. In the first half, the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies (OU) were all over forward Billy Pettiford, as they should have been. Pettiford would end the night with 13 points and 13 rebounds. But when they let Hill dunk for a third time, OU fell apart like Terrell Owens after a playoff loss.

On Jan. 24, the night Coach Ron Hunter collected more than 100,000 pairs of shoes, his team raised something else-the heart rate of every spectator in the Jungle. The 82-69 score might lead one to believe that the men's team hosted a basketball clinic that night. However, the game was actually a little too close for comfort at times.

The excitement started with the Jags winning the tip, and dunking for the Jags first two points. The game would soon turn into a volley at the free throw line. In just two-and-a-half minutes of play, OU had committed three fouls. Two minutes later, when Hill would head to the line scoring two of two, he would put the Jags up by three. They would quickly lose that lead when an offensive foul put Oakland up by three. Austin Montgomery, who ended with 20 points, answered with a 3-pointer that ignited the crowd.

On this night that their Coach was to raise more than $20,000 and garner more national recognition for his team and his charity, his players showed outstanding teamwork to ensure that everyone looked good in front of their guests. Five IUPUI players finished the game with points in the double digits. The team finished the first half with a 38-35 lead over Oakland.

The second half looked like it might favor the Grizzlies with some poor officiating. Game referees failed to whistle several lane violations, travelling and reach-ins. Unfazed, the team continued to work together and put up points.

On an IUPUI possession, Hill crossed his unworthy competition and dished to Pettiford, who sank two points. He was only getting started. Minutes later, Hill would dunk the ball with one second left on the shot clock, sending the crowd into hysterics.

It was his third dunk of the night, however, that rattled OU even more. And when Hill assisted Pettiford for a dunk, it was over. Oakland missed easy lay-ups, fouled again and went 0 for 3 in field goal attempts. With 1:33 Oakland had exhausted all timeouts. On its night in the spotlight, the men's basketball team would go on to win 82-69 over Oakland

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