With the regular season set to begin on Saturday, the Oakland University men’s basketball team played a tune-up exhibition game against Hope College Tuesday night at the O’Rena, winning 97-62.

 

After the game, Grizzlies head coach Greg Kampe was very complimentary about his team’s performance.

 

“I’m very pleased,” Kampe said. “It’s the first time in 26 years that I came out of an exhibition game not mad at anybody.”

 

The Grizzlies’ starting five of Johnathon Jones, Larry Wright, Derick Nelson, Will Hudson, and Keith Benson quickly gave OU a ten-point lead before the substitutes rotated in off the bench. All thirteen players who were dressed for the game saw action.

 

Leading the way offensively for Oakland was St. John’s transfer Larry Wright with 16 points. In his first game as a Grizzly, Wright shot 50 percent from the field and tied for the team lead in scoring.

 

Wright, a native of Michigan who had to sit out all of last season due to NCAA transfer rules, said he was happy to play in front of friends and family again, likening the game to his high school days.

 

“I had a lot of jitters for the first five minutes, but I just calmed down and played my game,” Wright said.

 

In the second half, most of the minutes went to the younger players. Freshman forward Drew Valentine caught the attention of Kampe, who said that Valentine proved against Hope that his strong preseason performance was not a fluke.

 

Valentine finished with 14 points and a share of the team lead in rebounds, with seven in just 13 minutes of playing time.

 

“Drew Valentine impressed me a lot,” Wright said. “He just does the little things that help our team – rebound, defend, get loose balls. That’s what we need. We need an energy guy and he played like that tonight.”

 

After the game, Kampe also spoke highly of Hudson’s play, saying that the game was reaffirming of his belief that Hudson is perhaps the most improved player on the team.

 

“Will Hudson is going to be a force to be reckoned with in this league,” Kampe said. “He’s playing with confidence, he took the ball to the basket tonight which is something he’s never been able to do.”

 

Hudson recorded 16 points and seven rebounds overall.

 

The Grizzlies will open up regular season play against Eastern Michigan Saturday in a home contest at the O’Rena.