The Grizzlies men’s basketball team took down the Northern Kentucky University (NKU) Norse on Wednesday, Jan. 9, after an exhilarating overtime at the OU Credit Union O’rena.
“If you can win and learn, that’s how you win championships,” head coach Greg Kampe said. “Today was a really good win for Oakland.”
Trey Townsend and DQ Cole led the Grizzlies in scoring with 18 points and 17 points, respectively. Both players also made contributions on the glass, with Cole pulling in eight rebounds and Townsend snagging seven.
“Everyone played a lot of minutes, but we just love each other, and we want to win for each other,” Townsend said.
In addition to Townsend and Cole, Rocket Watts and Jack Gohlke also had solid contributions. Watts chipped in ten points with three rebounds and three assists, while Gholke provided nine points, three rebounds and an assist.
Both teams opened the game trading baskets, but the points were far and few between, as both teams had issues scoring. Through the first 10 minutes of play, the Grizzlies and the Norse scored a combined 21 points, and NKU led 11-10.
“Northern Kentucky’s a great defensive team,” Kampe said. “What makes them is their zone’s unique. Our zone’s unique; their zone’s unique.”
Although NKU led for a greater part of the first half, the Grizzlies were able to take back the lead late in the half. However, the Norse swiftly recaptured the lead in the next possession and went into halftime with a five-point lead over the Grizzlies at 29-24.
At the start of the second half, the Norse jumped ahead to an eleven-point lead and held the Grizzlies scoreless for the first two minutes. Nevertheless, a Chris Conway jumper initiated a 9-2 Grizzly run, bringing the team within five points midway through the second.
Through the rest of the second, OU stayed within two possessions of the Norse until Cole hit a crucial three, which gave the Grizzlies their first lead of the half. Even though OU led by as many as six points with two minutes left in the second, a late NKU three from Micahel Bradley sent the game to overtime.
In the opening moments of overtime, OU got ahead of the Norse thanks to two consecutive mid-range jumpers from Watts.
After a couple of empty-handed possessions from the Grizzlies, a deep three-point conversion from Cole would seal the fate of the game, as the Grizzlies bolstered their lead back up to four points with two minutes remaining in overtime.
“It was crazy. I haven’t felt the atmosphere like that ever in my basketball career,” Cole said. “It was crazy to see all the fans going crazy, all the kids loving what they’re seeing; it was definitely a memory I made tonight for sure.”
Although the Norse were able to narrow the game back within two points, Blake Lampman knocked down three straight clutch free throws with under 30 seconds left in the game, which increased the OU lead to 70-65.
Following three straight missed three-pointers from NKU, the Grizzlies walked away victorious.
“(We) kinda did everything we could at times to lose tonight, and yet we found a way, and that’s what’s important,” Kampe said. “You grow, and you learn from your mistakes, you figure it out, and you make the next play.”
Next, the Grizzlies will host the Youngstown State Penguins on Wednesday, Jan. 17. After that, the team will take on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix on the road on Thursday, Jan. 25.