OU beats Youngstown St. in OT
ROCHESTER » For long-time followers of Oakland University’s men’s basketball program, there must have been a growing sense of dread creeping in during the closing minutes of regulation Tuesday.
Facing Youngstown State in a Horizon League tournament quarterfinal game, Oakland very nearly repeated its all too familiar postseason failings at crunch time as it watched its once double-digit lead slipping away late.
But to the relief of coach Greg Kampe, the Golden Grizzlies didn’t buckle this time under the weight of the program’s past disappointments. A perfectly executed defensive stop by Oakland in the closing seconds of regulation extended the game into overtime where the Grizzlies emerged with an 87-83 victory.
Expressing relief and contrition, Kampe spoke after the dramatic win like a man well aware of the lack of positive tournament results since his team joined the Horizon League eight years ago.
“If we’d have lost another onepossession game in this tournament, I would have walked right out that door into the parking lot, gotten in my car and left. You guys would have probably never seen me again. Don’t think that thought didn’t go through my head,” said Kampe, who has
helmed the program for 37 seasons. “Because if we lose another one-possession game like that, it’s time for a change. And don’t think that thought wasn’t in my head.”
For now, however, thirdseeded Oakland remained in the hunt for an elusive Horizon League tournament title thanks to its fourpoint overtime win against the Penguins.
The Golden Grizzlies will face No. 4-seeded Northern Kentucky on Monday, March 8 in Indianapolis in the semifinals.
“They’re so happy in the locker room and I am so happy for them. In reality, that’s what this is about,” Kampe said. “If we go and lose in the semifinals, everybody will say, ‘Oh, Oakland lost again.’ It’s been a tough run for us. We had it going our way (before) we got in this league. We’ve done well in this league. If you think about it, there’s been eight tournaments in this league for us now. We’re 4-7, we’ve lost one-possession games four times, we’ve never been to the final, and yet we’ve been the first seed, the second seed, three times we’ve been the third seed. We’ve also been a four, a five, and
a six. Six is the worst we’ve ever been. We’ve done really, really well (in the regular season), but the postseason has been bad.
“It’s been a long stretch of unluckiness and a long stretch of (wondering) what the hell happened. Don’t think that doesn’t weigh on me and don’t think I’m not aware of that. It’s a hard thing. When you’re where I am in my life and where I’m
at in my career, this isn’t about how many rings. I told my team I’ve got more rings than fingers. This is about them … That’s what this is about. It makes me sick my stomach when I can’t get there.”
With a roster featuring just three players who had previously appeared in a Horizon League tournament game, Oakland’s youthful team was able to
shake off the plays and moments that didn’t go their way against Youngstown State.
When the Penguins erased a double-digit deficit to tie the game with 5:34 remaining, Grizzlies’ junior Rashad Williams answered with three 3-pointers in a two-minute span to reignite his team. Williams tallied 19 of his team-best 22 points in the second half.
With the score tied in the final minute of regulation, Oakland came up empty on its final possession, setting the stage for YSU to draw up a last-second shot of its own.
In the extra session, Oakland freshman Trey Townsend answered an early 3-pointer by Youngstown State with a key triple of his own. Two late drives to the rim with deft finishes by junior Jalen Moore helped clinch victory for the Golden Grizzlies.
The nation’s leader in assists, Moore racked up 11 helpers Tuesday to go with his 20-point effort. Junior Daniel Oladapo recorded a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, while a pair of freshmen, Micah Parrish and Townsend finished with 12 and eight points, respectively.
“Trey Townsend took six charges I was told. That’s got to be an all-world record,” Kampe said.