The Oakland men’s basketball team squeaked by the Detroit Mercy Titans on Sunday, winning the game 93-83 in overtime after a clutch play from Isaiah Jones and DQ Cole at the end of regulation.
Oakland’s win against their rivals is much needed at this point in the season. They now rank firmly in sixth place in the Horizon League, two games ahead of Northern Kentucky.
“I think what we witnessed today was the rebirth of this rivalry,” head coach Greg Kampe said. “I give them a ton of credit. They’ve decided this is a rivalry. I think we’re now 24-4 against them since we’ve joined the league, and I think they’re going to change that, or they’re going to try.”
Additionally, the win marks Kampe’s 131st conference win in the Horizon League, which ties the record for the most by a head coach. Ironically, the only other head coach with 131 conference wins in the league is former Detroit Mercy head coach Perry Watson.
Freshman Nassim Mashhour led the Golden Grizzlies in scoring, scoring a career-high 24 points while coming off the bench. Jaylen Jones also had a solid showing off the bench, putting up 16 points while dishing out three assists.
“I’m not the most athletic player so I have to be more crafty around the rim,” Mashhour said.
“Crafty?” Kampe replied.
“You don’t think I was crafty?” Mashhour followed up.
Oakland’s frontcourt duo of Allen Mukeba and Buru Naivalurua was also effective, with both players notching double-digit scoring efforts. Additionally, Mukeba finished the game with a double-double with the 10 boards he secured.
For the Titans, Orlando Lovejoy led the team in scoring with 20 points. Legend Geeter also had a strong game, putting up 15 points while snagging a team-high seven boards.
At the start of the game, Detroit Mercy established this would be a tough, physical game for the Golden Grizzlies, as Oakland was sent to the charity stripe numerous times in the game’s opening moments.
Although the Golden Grizzlies maintained a lead for most of the first, a three from Mak Manciel lifted the Titans to the lead with five minutes to go in the half.
Geeter made two consecutive three-pointers a few moments later, keeping the Titans ahead. However, a late layup from Cooper Craggs prevented the Titans from pulling ahead any further, as the Golden Grizzlies finished the first down 42-40.
At the start of the second, Detroit Mercy held its lead, which at one point extended to eight points. However, Jaylen Jones turned the tides midway through the second with a layup. From there, it was back-and-forth basketball.
With the Titans in possession of the ball in the game’s closing minutes up three, Isaiah Jones picked Geeter’s pocket before dishing the ball to Cole on the fastbreak, who was at the three-point line—Cole’s three found nylon, sending the game to overtime.
In overtime, the Golden Grizzlies’ momentum from sending the game to overtime carried over, as Oakland opened the extra period on a 10-2 run. This left the Titans in the dust in overtime, giving the Golden Grizzlies their ninth conference win on the season.
From the box score, the number of opportunities Oakland got at the free-throw line certainly sticks out, with the Golden Grizzlies taking 52 free throws compared to the Titans’ 13. Notably, the 39 free throws Oakland sank in the game ties a program record for the most free throws made.
Up next, the Golden Grizzlies will travel to take on the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons on Friday, Feb. 21. Oakland picked up a win earlier in the season against the Mastodons, but Purdue Fort Wayne ranks just above the Golden Grizzlies in the Horizon League standings, making for a pivotal matchup.
