By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---Darren Groves (Thurgood Marshall/Dayton, Ohio) shattered the single game rebounding record as the freshman forward nearly had 30 points and 30 rebounds in a 116-61 win for the Owens Community College men's basketball team tonight in the Student Health and Activities Center (SHAC).
Groves totaled game-highs in points (29) and rebounds (28), while adding three assists, a team-high two blocks and one steal. He finished 11-for-20 from the field, 7-for-10 from the foul line, and he had seven offensive rebounds. In the first half alone, he had 14 points and 17 rebounds, and totaled a double-double in each half.
The game itself saw Owens holding a 9-8 lead with 16:41 left in the first half before a 10-0 run created the first large spread of the game. During the run, CJ Bussey (Central Catholic/Toledo, Ohio) had five points, while Austin Somerfield (Greenville/Greenville, Mich.) closed the run with a jumper at the 13:40 mark.
Later, after Tyrell Murphy's jumper pulled Washtenaw within nine at 21-12 with 11:58 left in the half, Owens went on a 20-2 run to push its lead to 41-14 with 6:58 left in the half. During the run, Shaakir Lindsey (Teaneck/Teaneck, N.J) had nine points, while Groves had seven.
Owens closed the half on a 11-2 run to take a 64-27 lead into the break. The only points for Washtenaw during the run came on a buzzer beating fast break dunk, while Groves had six points during the stretch.
In the second half, needing just four rebounds to tie the single game rebounding record, Groves didn't pick up a rebound until 9:24 remained in the half. Over the final nine minutes, though, he totaled 11 rebounds.
Washtenaw's offense picked up in the second half, but Owens gradually increased its lead. Up 40 with 16:38 left, Owens got three 3-pointers from John Murry (North Central/Indianapolis, Ind.) and a lay-up from Bussey to give the team an 85-36 lead with 14:42 left. Eventually, Owens led by as many as 55 twice down the stretch, including the final margin.
With his rebound total, Groves broke a record that has been held by at least one person since 1985 when Eric Seaman set the standard on Feb. 16 of that year. Then, on Feb. 5, 2012, James Kelly tied the record. Last year, Bikramjit Gill tied the record twice. However, tonight, Groves became the first player in the program's storied 45-year history to produce a 25 point, 25 rebound game. And he did it off the bench in 33 minutes of action.
As a team, Owens out-rebounded Washtenaw 56-38, outscored Washtenaw 58-34 in paint points and held a 23-6 advantage in points off turnovers.
In addition to Groves, four others notched double figures for Owens. Murry totaled 23 points, while Lindsey had 17, Pete Firlik (Catholic Central/Grand Rapids, Mich.) had 14 and Somerfield had 11. Groves had half of the team's 56 rebounds and half of the team's offensive rebounds. Justin Baker (Cathedral/Indianapolis, Ind.) had a team-high six assists, while Bussey had five and two others had four. Lindsey had a team-high four steals.
Darnell Givhan (14), Jeremiah Strode (11) and Murphy (10) scored in double figures for Washtenaw.
With tonight's win, Owens improved to 7-2 overall. They will be back in action at home against No. 16 Mott Community College next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
Notes
Humble, who had 21 points against Owens last year, finished with just three points on 1-for-10 shooting tonight.
With his huge game tonight, Groves is now averaging 12.3 points and a team-high 11 rebounds per game.
Edmond Early Jr. (Thurgood Marshall/Dayton, Ohio) returned to action tonight after missing several games due to injury.