The Oakland Golden Grizzlies officially kicked off their 2025–26 campaign against Alma College at the OU Credit Union O’rena on Wednesday, Oct. 22. They faced off against Division III Alma College with the goal of putting the hard work and training — dating back to July — to the test.
As expected, the Golden Grizzlies were dominant on both ends of the court from the opening tip, quickly establishing a massive half-time lead and entering the locker room ahead 59–34.
Isaac Garrett, a 6-foot-8 transfer, was the most dominant player on the court — an absolute force to be reckoned with. Defensively, he crashed the glass and forced multiple turnovers. His long, muscular frame proved vital in the paint, as he consistently boxed out, grabbed defensive rebounds and deterred shots around the rim. He finished with three blocks and 12 rebounds.
Offensively, Garrett was remarkably effective operating from the post. Alma repeatedly tried to double-team him, but he handled the pressure well, securing the ball and recording zero turnovers. Instead of forcing shots, Garrett showed high basketball intelligence, using his footwork to draw defenders before finding open teammates. He passed out to the corner from the post and found teammates in better scoring positions from the dunker spot — demonstrating why he’s a complete playmaking big.
UT Arlington transfer Brody Robinson was also a revelation. At 5-foot-11, Robinson proved to be an effective player in transition, communicating with teammates and making smart reads offensively. He wasn’t flashy, but he rarely strayed from the correct choice and made few offensive errors. He also locked in defensively, playing a key role in forcing stops. He recorded a team-high seven assists and four steals.
The Golden Grizzlies started the second half a bit shaky, committing some unnecessary and unforced turnovers — something they’ll look to improve before facing the powerhouse trifecta of Michigan, Purdue and Houston in back-to-back-to-back fixtures once the regular season begins. However, it didn’t take long for Oakland to kick into gear again. They comfortably took control and became dominant all over the court in a matter of minutes, winning the half 52–43.
Redshirt freshman Warren Marshall IV was impressive in both halves and intriguing to watch throughout the game. He led the team with 20 points. His jump-shooting release is slower and can be inconsistent, but it was mostly on target Wednesday. He shot 6-for-11 from the field, including four 3-pointers. Marshall played through contact, helping Oakland on both ends. Offensively, he drove into the paint when lanes opened and got to the free-throw line consistently. He also created second-chance opportunities by anticipating offensive rebounds, finishing with three.
Nate Deer was more domineering in the second half, making it difficult for Alma’s bigs to operate in the paint. He used his 6-foot-10 frame to box out on defensive boards and contest shots, especially during Garrett’s early second-half rest.
Fifth-year transfer Brett White II also stood out, hitting multiple high-difficulty 3-pointers — his bread and butter during the game — highlighted by back-to-back shots from beyond the arc early in the period.
Key Takeaways
- Communication: For a roster featuring many new faces, player communication was solid — a crucial starting point for team chemistry.
- Defensive lapses: The team experienced some defensive lapses, particularly from younger players, but they were minor in the context of the game.
- High-stakes improvement: These minor errors could be the difference between Oakland putting up a fight against Michigan, Purdue and Houston — or getting blown out by their sheer quality and size.
- Injury report: Forwards Tuburu Naivalurua and Michael Houge were sidelined with injuries. Houge was seen on the sideline with a cast on his foot, and neither player was active in practice leading up to the game.
- Shot selection: Shot selection was consistent, with few bad or ill-advised attempts.
- Three-point shooting: Oakland shot 34.3 percent from three on 35 attempts — not a bad mark, but likely an area for improvement before the regular season begins.
- Double-double debut: Snow College transfer Isaac Garrett ended his Golden Grizzlies debut with a dominant double-double: 18 points and 12 rebounds, plus five assists. Brett White II was two rebounds shy of a double-double himself.
The 111–77 victory over Alma was exactly the kind of test run Coach Greg Kampe needed, allowing the staff to evaluate the new core’s potential and identify areas for immediate refinement.
The performances of transfers like Garrett and Robinson, coupled with Marshall’s scoring eruption, signal high offensive firepower. But with a gauntlet of high-major opponents looming, the Golden Grizzlies must quickly tighten communication and minimize second-half lapses if they hope to turn exhibition dominance into regular-season upsets.