For the first time since 2000, Greg Kampe was not stalking the sidelines.
It was a weird sight for sure, but Oakland overcame a slow start to get a 68-54 win over Green Bay.
“I guess I’m new here,” acting head coach Jeff Smith started off his postgame press conference.
The game got off to a sloppy start, with Oakland unable to really get going in the first 20 minutes of action. The score was tied at 29, and the Golden Grizzlies were struggling shooting the ball.
After a few dunks by Allen Mukeba led off the second half, Oakland went up 33-30 early in that half. From there they used a 15-0 run to take an 18 point lead. The lead never got below nine the rest of the way, and Oakland was able to cruise to the finish.
The aforementioned Mukeba had a nice bounce back night after a scoreless effort at Robert Morris. He scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds in only 26 minutes, due to an early foul out. Buru Naivalurua added a double double, scoring 10 points and 13 rebounds. The two have each played in 22 games this year, and are separated by one total point on the season. They led a diminant effort on the glass, with Oakland winning the rebounding battle 46-22.
“Rebounding has been a pretty big focus for us all year,” Naivalurua said. “Kampe made it pretty clear at the start of the season that he thought we could be a really good rebounding team. So pretty much from the first day of practice was just being able to crash the glass really hard. I think it is part of our identity as a basketball team. Every team we play we want to outrebound them.”
For the first time at home all year (against a d1 opponent), Oakland was led in scoring by someone other than Mukeba or Naivalurua. DQ Cole went 5/8 from the floor, including two threes en route to 18 points. His three assists were a team high as well, and he also grabbed seven rebounds. Cole used a 6/6 performance from the line to help lock down the victory as well, something he has struggled with this year.
“We didn’t start the season well (from the line). Guys after practice will be in the locker saying ‘let’s go shoot free throws. I know Allen, Buru, Deng are all shooting 200 after practice. We just keep growing,” Cole said.
Malcolm Christie and Nassim Mashhour each scored nine points, combining for five threes. They are starting to look like a duo that can raise the ceiling for Oakland, based on their skillset from the perimeter.
This was a win Oakland needed to get on its home floor, as Green Bay now has the longest losing streak in the country, as well as the most losses. They took advantage, and it was win number 10 on the season. The Golden Grizzlies now sit at 7-5 in the Horizon League, just a game out of q three way tie for third place.
The homestand continues with another team on a losing streak, as Northern Kentucky, losers of six straight after a 4-1 league play start enter the O’rena.
Saturdays tip will be at 4pm Eastern Time, with ESPN+ carrying the TV broadcast.
