#HLMBB Semifinals – Golden Grizzlies, Panthers advance

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Oakland is on a mission.

Naturally Griffin Beers will have more on Oakland’s 74-71 win over Cleveland State in the Horizon League semifinals. But to look at what the game that the Golden Grizzlies put together, both from a shooting and defensive standpoint, it could prove intimidating.

“We made a lot of clutch defensive plays,” said Oakland head coach Greg Kampe. “So, I’m as pleased as can be, we’d be a really competitive good team and we advanced, I’m really happy.”

Being intimidated is something that Milwaukee under Bart Lundy has never been too concerned with, though, especially with a star like BJ Freeman leading the way.

The Panthers, down by double digits at one point in the first half, put on the afterburners in the second half, led by Freeman and Faizon Fields, who had 16 points and 16 boards.

“We really regrouped at halftime, thought we came out much tougher,” said Milwaukee coach Bart Lundy. “We played big in the second half, we’ve got more bodies. We haven’t had all those bodies all year.”

“Coach came in second half and he said if we come in like another half like that it’s going to be a long game for us,” Freeman said. “And just like we always say just take cues with coach wants us to do to the full extent not wanting to go home. That’s our big spirit here. We’re not trying to go home.”

For the Golden Grizzlies, in their triumph over the Vikings, it was the tandem of Jack Gohlke, who finished with 21 points, all on three-pointers, and DQ Cole, who added 20 and seemed to be involved in everything on the court.

“I want to win so I’ll do whatever it takes to win for the team,” Cole said. If that’s grabbing every rebound, if I’m not hitting shots, boxing out, whatever it takes to, to get the dub. That’s that’s all I’m all about.”

For Cleveland State, head coach Daniyal Robinson gave credit to Kampe’s gameplan that proved to be a winning one.

“Their guys fought really really hard,” Robinson said. “It’s a reason why they won the regular season, They’ve got a great length, grade size, great shooting, Coach Kampe has done a phenomenal job. It’s a testament to him.”

NKU head coach Darrin Horn, for his part, understood the uphill battle his team has faced not only this game but for a good part of the season, thanks to injuries, and the Panthers’ strategy to take advantage of some of this Norse’s issues.

“They’ve they’ve got a really good basketball team; really athletic, “Horn said. “We knew rebounding was going to be an issue coming into the game, and they did a fantastic job on the glass against us.”

For the finals, Lundy recognizes that in spite of what his team brings to the table and on the heels on some great performances, Oakland will still be a handful.

“It’s really difficult because Coach Kampe, He’s done this a few times and that zone, he makes little tweaks and adjustments,” Lunday said. “So, I’ve tried to watch a little bit of of us against them and trying to anticipate what he’s gonna do, but he’s gonna make them on the fly. It’s really going to come down to our guys.”

The final head-to-head matchup that will determine who wins the Horizon League Tournament and, in turn, make the NCAA Tournament will take place at 7pm ET on ESPN.

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