The men’s basketball team fell short to the Walsh Cavaliers in an exhibition game to start the season, 75-69.
The Cavaliers gave the Grizzlies a run for their money from the very beginning. The first 20 minutes consisted of going back and forth and were nail-biting as each team looked towards supremacy. During this intense half, Trey Townsend quickly took the stage and did his go-to post-work moves, securing eight of Oakland’s first 10 points.
The scoring duel ensued, and the Grizzlies had to get back into it after trailing behind. Oakland fans found a glimmer of hope when sharpshooter Jack Gohlke, in a spectacular display of skill, drained a crucial 3-pointer, marking his first of the season. This shot of brilliance knotted the game at 22, with a little under seven minutes left in the first half.
Tone Hunter, the transfer junior guard from Long Beach State, had his first buckets as a Grizzly that seized a pivotal moment that rejuvenated Oakland’s energy. His contributions brought the Grizzlies within striking distance, closing the gap to a mere three points at a 28-31 score with just under two minutes remaining.
However, the Cavaliers’ guard, Kobe Mitchell, wouldn’t let Oakland off the hook just yet, as he had himself a night that the Grizzlies could not contain. He delivered a pair of crucial three-pointers in the waning moments of the half that kept them in full motion, amassing 17 early points as the Grizzlies were behind four points at halftime, 34-30.
Coming back from intermission, Walsh picked up where they left off, seizing their largest lead of the night, stretching it to 45-32. The Grizzlies, though, were determined to launch a comeback fueled by Tone Hunter again, coming into clutch again with two buckets of his own — the start to the Grizzlies 9-0 run, cutting the Cavaliers lead to eight points.
Another fresh face for Oakland who had impressive plays was DQ Cole. As the clock ticked down to under 10 minutes, he delivered a long-range shot, with the assist given to Cooper Craggs, narrowing the Walsh lead to five points, 49-54.
DQ Cole added to the stat sheet not only eight points but stayed on the glass, grabbing five rebounds, and with great anticipation on defense, he had three steals.
His contributions brought the Grizzlies tantalizingly close, with the score reading 63-66 as only 1:57 remained on the clock.
Walsh called a timeout and came into the game with a press breaker orchestrated by Kobe Mitchell as he hit another three that put them ahead by six. The Grizzlies’ valiant effort was not enough to stop Walsh’s incredible shooting.
Townsend shined for the Grizzlies and led all scorers with 22 points and nine rebounds. Gohleke had 15 points. Hunter and Cole had nine and eight points, respectively.
The Golden Grizzlies’ spirits remain high as they get ready for their second exhibition game against Wayne State University at the OU Credit Union O’rena on Monday, Oct. 30, at 5:30 p.m.
Oakland will kick off its official regular season on Monday, Nov. 6, at Ohio State in Columbus.
