The Oakland University men’s basketball team punched their ticket to extended post-season play after defeating the Purdue Fort Wayne University (PFW) Mastodons on Thursday, March 7, at the OU Credit Union O’rena with a final score of 75-65.
“The bottom line is that every time something went bad, we were able to go down and run a set play and get the ball where we wanted it, and we usually finished,” head coach Greg Kampe said. “Every time they did something, we answered, and that’s how you win.”
In a pivotal win that featured elite defense, the Grizzlies will now move on to the semifinal round of the Horizon League playoffs.
“I think you’ve seen how far we’ve come defensively,” Kampe said. “I also think you’ve seen how mature we’ve become and how much better in the moment we are.”
Rocket Watts led the team in scoring, shooting an efficient 7-10 from the field with 18 points. Additionally, Watts was a pest on the defensive side of the ball all night for the Golden Grizzlies, coming away with two steals.
In addition to Watts, two other Grizzlies had double-digit scoring efforts. DQ Cole and Chris Conway each scored 14 and 11 points, respectively. Conway was also a force on the defensive side of the court, finishing the game with four blocks.
After the opening tip, the stage was set for the most electrifying crowd all season for the Grizzlies. With 3,721 fans in attendance, the quarterfinal tilt had the most fans of any men’s basketball game this season.
With all of the momentum on the Grizzlies’ side, OU got on the board first, with Trey Townsend grabbing his own miss and finishing inches away from the rim. However, PFW got their first points with a pair of free throws from Anthony Roberts a couple possessions later.
Following a monster slam dunk from Osei Price, the Grizzlies offense ignited in the opening minutes of the first half, and the defense remained sturdier than ever. With 10:50 remaining in the first half, the Grizzlies jumped ahead to a 17-5 lead after scoring 13 consecutive points.
However, despite being held scoreless for seven minutes, the Mastodons were able to string together some offense, at one point coming within six points of the Grizzlies as the first half progressed. In response, OU quickly got back to business, rebuilding their lead back to 29-17 with five minutes left in the first half.
By the end of the half, OU led the Mastodons 38-27. Notably, when the Grizzlies matched up with the Mastodons earlier this season at home, PFW scored 46 points in the first half.
Following a steal from Jack Gohlke in the opening minute of the second half, Conway finished at the rim. The make from Conway jump-started another impressive run of basketball for the Grizzlies, as OU held PFW scoreless through the first four minutes of the half and scored six unanswered.
With 12:13 remaining in the game, an electrifying dunk from Townsend took most fans out of their seats. After the slam from Townsend, the Grizzlies led 57-34, their largest lead of the night.
For the rest of the game, the Mastodons slowly crept back and, at one point, came within six points, but the Grizzlies ultimately came away victorious.
Up next, the Grizzlies will travel to Indianapolis to battle the Cleveland State Vikings at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Monday, March 11.
“Cleveland State is a great team,” Watts said. “I feel like it’s going to be a great game. We’re going to have some good practices before we play them.”
The winner of the semifinal match will play in the Horizon League Championship, which will take place the following day in Indianapolis.
Notably, whichever team wins the Horizon League Championship round will automatically qualify to play in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.