Valparaiso holds off Oakland in 82-76 win

VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) E. Victor Nickerson scored 16 points to lead six players in double figures as Valparaiso held off Oakland for an 82-76 win Sunday that kept the Crusaders in a two-way tie atop the Horizon League.

Darien Walker contributed 13 points, Tevonn Walker added 12, and Vashil Fernandez and Alec Peters had 11 apiece for Valparaiso (22-4, 9-2), which shot 57.7 percent on 52 attempts from the field to win its fourth straight.

Valparaiso opened with a 13-2 burst but Oakland (12-13, 7-3) stayed close. The Golden Grizzlies edged ahead 45-44 with Jalen Hayes' 3-pointer midway through the second half, which ignited a back-and-forth battle and eight lead changes over the next four minutes. Valparaiso regained the advantage for good with Walker's three-point play that made it 71-68 with 4:04 remaining.

Hayes led Oakland with 21 points, Kahlil Felder added 20 and Corey Petros had 16 with 11 rebounds.