Sunday, January 23, 2005

VALPO (7-11, 3-3) vs. OAKLAND (5-11, 3-3)

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 24 - 7:30 p.m. CT

WHERE: ARC, Valparaiso, Indiana

RADIO: WEFM (95.9, Michigan City), WVUR-FM (95.1, Valparaiso) - Todd Ickow and Brent Whitlock announcing.

TV: live - WYIN 56 - Dick Harlan and Joe Arredondo announcing.

THE COACHES: Valparaiso is guided by Homer Drew, who has a career record of 530-330 in his 28th season and a record at Valpo of 261-208 in his 16th season. Oakland is led by Greg Kampe, who has a career mark of 341-247 in his 21st season and a record at Oakland of 341-247 in his 21st season.

SERIES RECORD: Valpo leads 14-0

LAST MEETING: Jan. 10, 2005 - Valpo won 87-78 in Rochester, Michigan.

WYIN 56 TO TELEVISE TONIGHT'S GAME LIVE: Tonight's game will be televised live on WYIN 56. The game is the third of seven live games involving VU on WYIN 56 this season.

Tonight, Valpo hosts Oakland in a game sandwiched between a pair of two-game road swings. The Crusaders dropped a close contest at Western Illinois (83-79) on Saturday. Dan Oppland topped Valpo with a season-high 29 points. Shawn Huff added a career-high 14 and Kenny Harris netted 12 points and five rebounds. Valpo continues its journey across the country by opposing Southern Utah Thursday at 8:05 p.m. CT in Cedar City, Utah. On Feb. 3, the Crusaders travel to Indianapolis to play IUPUI in Conseco Fieldhouse beginning at 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET).

In the first meeting between Valpo and Oakland on Jan. 10 in Rochester, Michigan, Valpo shot 60 percent overall in defeating the Golden Grizzlies 87-78. The victory extended Valpo's all-time record against Oakland to 14-0. The Crusaders placed four players in double figures, led by Oppland's 23 points. Ron Howard added 18 points, Seth Colclasure tallied 10 points and a career-high 10 assists, and Jarryd Loyd netted 10 points. Rawle Marshall topped Oakland with 30 points, while Cortney Scott added 24.

VALPO LEADS NATION IN 3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE: Valpo leads the nation in 3-point field goal percentage through games of Jan. 23. The Crusaders are currently shooting 43.7 percent from 3-point territory (124-284). The Crusaders also stand 10th in the nation in free throw percentage (.758).

OPPLAND NEEDS 33 TO REACH 1,000-CAREER POINT MILESTONE: Dan Oppland, needs 33 points to reach the 1,000-career point milestone. The 6'8" junior has scored 967 career points. Oppland's 18.7 ppg. currently leads the Mid-Con. In addition to scoring in double figures in 16 straight games, Oppland is averaging 25.0 ppg. over the last five games.

HOWARD ON ASSIST RAMPAGE: Junior Ron Howard has become a complete player as evidenced by his increase in assists. Valpo's second-leading scorer (11.8 ppg.), Howard has averaged 7.0 assists over the last four games, including a career-high 11 Saturday against Western Illinois.

VALPO M.A.S.H. UNIT: Homer Drew has been forced to juggle a unit that has been besieged with injuries this season. Five players - senior point guard Ali Berdiel (16), freshman Shawn Huff (5), sophomore Kenny Harris (10), freshman Jarryd Loyd (4) and sophomore Jimmie Miles (3) have missed a total of 38 games due to injuries. Berdiel is out of action indefinitely. Valpo has played with eight scholarship players in nine games this season.