As Oakland inbounded the ball, the men’s basketball team let the final seconds tick off the clock, and won more than just a basketball game on Monday.

The victory means more than just another season accomplishment.

Wins against major teams like Tennessee, get us one more step from being confused as a school in California and grow into our own.

Going from a Division II power to  a Division I mid-major on the rise, Oakland’s steady growth has been trending upwards.

In an age where confidence in sports can be attributed to arrogance and cockiness, Oakland is the opposite.

Their confidence has been built over the years through staying proud even when the chips have been stacked against them.

Even winning the Summit League Championship for two straight years and producing professional talent, and not being the obvious favorite for repeat championship hasn’t discouraged what the Grizzlies believe about themselves and their abilities.

“A lot of the pundits thought Oakland was a ‘one-trick pony’ with Keith Benson,” men’s head coach Greg Kampe said. “We won a lot of games when Keith was here and we’ll win a lot of games now that he’s left.”

Kampe’s mentality has spread to players like senior guard Reggie Hamilton, who spoke at the press conference following the second series victory against the Volunteers.

“Coming into the season, not once did we doubt ourselves,” Hamilton said. “We know what we are capable of.”

These Golden Grizzlies are setting the tone for the future.

It will take time, and growth may not be exponential, but what the basketball program has been doing can’t be accurately described by just wins and losses. It is described through respect from the rest of college basketball.

As anyone who has persevered through adversity will tell you: respect is never given, it is earned.

Kampe seems to be well aware of this, scheduling 11 top-25 teams since the 2009 season.

Playing some of the best in the country every year allows for the spread of the Golden Grizzly brand.

This is the real goal.

It’s about creating and maintaining that identity of success that is evident in the motto for this current squad.

“Built to last.”

Players will come and go, but hopefully the only thing that will change about this team’s image is Kampe’s recent suit selection.