Senior day in the O’rena has always been special. The festivities after the game give a chance for the players and fans to connect on a personal level. It almost feels like there is magic in the air.
So with Oakland trailing arch-rival Detroit Mercy in the 2nd half, while needing a win to clinch their first outright Horizon League regular season title, that magic was called upon to deliver.
And it did.
With the game on the line, the seniors delivered like they have all year. Holding a 67-65 lead with just over 2 minutes to play, Oakland put the game in the hands of their veterans. A Blake Lampman steal led to a Jack Gohlke three, which was followed by a Rocket Watts layup. The Titans had the answers, and the score was at 72-70. It was then that Trey Townsend provided the last blow, with an and one to go up by the final score of 75-70.
The night belonged to two Golden Grizzlies in particular, Townsend and Lampman. Lampman led the scoring charge with 20, while also breaking the school record for games played. Townsend followed with 18 of his own. It was an emotional scene postgame with both players addressing the crowd to rousing applause postgame. Watts and Gohlke got their dues as well. Gohlke posted 13 points, 5 boards and 5 assists, while Watts added 4 points including his clutch bucket.
Although the seniors were at the forefront of everyone’s minds throughout the night, there was something else at stake.
The win clinched the Golden Grizzlies first outright Horizon League regular season title since joining the conference in 2013. Oakland shared a championship in 2017 with Valparaiso. Oakland also notched its second 20 win season in three years.
As for the game itself, it turned out to be a dandy.
Detroit Mercy came into the game at 1-29, but played well above their record on this night. The Titans held a lead into the second half, and answered all of Oaklands runs until the very end.
With a March-like feel in the gym, a game like that could prove to be the perfect tournament atmosphere that Oakland needed to prepare for the journey that lies ahead.
That journey will begin Thursday back inside the O’rena against a currently undecided opponent. The Horizon League bracket includes reseeding after every round, so with Oakland clinching the number one seed, they will face off against the worst remaining seed after Tuesday night’s first round. The four possible opponents are Fort Wayne, Robert Morris, IUPUI and Detroit Mercy. The main goal all season has been to get to the NCAA Tournament, and that will continue to be the focus.
“We’re not done,” Greg Kampe was heard telling his team after cutting down the nets.
But Saturday night was the culmination of an achievement that deserves to be focused on, and celebrated. This was a team picked sixth in the league, a team that lost to D2 Walsh to open its exhibition season, a team that began its conference season at 1-2, and a team that was captained by two former walk-ons, both of whom are likely to be named to all league teams.
It will go down as a historic regular season, and one of Greg Kampe’s finest coaching jobs. Winning 14 of 17 games to win the championship is deserving of praise, even if the main goal is still yet to be reached.
The regular season has now come and gone, but it should be remembered as one to be proud of as a Golden Grizzly fan. A chapter has been closed but there is still more story to be written. It is postseason time.
“We’ve won the ring,” said Kampe last week. “But what is it gonna say?”
It’s time to find out.
