By Ryan Kay, Special to the HoriZone Roundtable
The Oakland and Detroit Mercy basketball rivalry doesn’t register nationally and is overshadowed even by more recognized in-state rivalries like Michigan State/Michigan and even Western Michigan/Central Michigan. However, with the resurgence of the Titans program under the second full season under Mark Montgomery and the Golden Grizzlies legendary head coach Greg Kampe, the Metro Series, as it is known, has re-emerged as one of the best mid-major basketball rivalries this season.
These two programs compete in the Horizon League that is the home for teams like Wright State and Northern Kentucky. Oakland for example defeated Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament two years ago and Detroit Mercy defeated St. John’s and UCLA in consecutive years in the NCAA Tournament back in 1998 and 1999. These are not two programs that have not had any significant success in March like other mid-major programs. Both teams were looking to win this game to help them with higher seeding in the upcoming conference tournament in hope of winning the Horizon League tournament to receive the automatic bid for the Big Dance.
Only 26 miles separate these two schools, and it is about only a half an hour drive on I-75 to and from each school. They played each other earlier in the season in late January and Oakland won on the road in a high-scoring game, 95-87. This time around, though, the Titans pulled away and won by a final score of 95-89.
“A rivalry doesn’t start until you beat your rival,” Montgomery said after the game. “So, I think it’s on now.”
Today’s game was also a high-scoring game, but it had a different flow, especially in the first half. UDM jumped out to an early 11-9 lead, with Legend Geeter playing well early for the Titans. The Golden Grizzlies’ Buru Naivalurua, who is in contention to possibly be named Horizon League Player of the Year, had all nine of Oakland’s early points. The Titans maintained a lead with Orlando Lovejoy and TJ Nadeau helping fuel Detroit Mercy’s offense though out much of the first half. UDM though extended their lead to double digits late in the first half but the Grizz, in the last two minutes of the half, cut the Titans lead to only seven behind the 14 points from Naivalurua and nine from Brett White.
The game ramped up early in the second half as the crowd got more vocal and more of Oakland’s three-point attempts began to fall. As the Golden Grizzlies narrowed the gap to only six points, the Titans guards, especially Lovejoy responded to ensure that they kept their lead against their archrivals.
In rivalry games, especially on the road, teams like UDM need players to take their game to take their game to a new level. And Nadeau was one of them, as he made four of his six three-point attempts and had 21 points very early in the second half. However, when he went to the bench, Oakland’s Brody Robinson made back-to-back threes after missing his first three attempts from beyond the arc to cut the Titans lead to only two points. The Golden Grizzlies, this time from a Brett White three and then an Issac Garrett blocked shot, took a one-point lead as momentum began to shift in Oakland’s favor.
Senior Day also brought out the best in Naivalurua, as with twelve minutes remaining in the game, he put down a two-hand dunk for his 22nd and 23nd points of the game to give Oakland a three-point lead. Also in rivalry games, the crowd plays a factor especially in a close game. The Golden Grizzlies’ student section made their voices heard as the Titans missed some free throws to try to tie the game. However, basketball is a game of runs, and the Detroit Mercy went on a short one.
Behind the continued excellent play of Nadeau, UDM not only tied the game but took a two-point lead with around nine minutes remaining in the game. Also, UDM began to make some free throws to take a 70-68 lead. Lovejoy continued to fuel the Titans’ defense as his basket gave him 23 points and a 76-72 lead with under seven minutes left in the game. However, Oakland, on its Senior Day, kept on fighting.
Garrett kept battling on both ends of the floor and his and one three-point play cut the Titans lead to only one. UDM responded behind Geeter’s second half offensive surge and the Titans built a four-point lead with four and half minutes left in the game. Lovejoy made an impressive fading mid-range jumper off the glass to give Detroit Mercy an 86-80 lead. If it wasn’t for Grizz’s 10 made threes, the Titans may have run away with this game.
The Golden Grizzlies did try their best to win on senior day late in the game. Robinson made one of two free throw attempts to trim the Titans lead with only four with 43 seconds remaining in the game. However, Nadeau stepped up once again and this time at the free throw line making both of his free throw’s attempts with 34 seconds left. Tyler Spratt with 20 seconds remaining, put down a two-hand dunk at the Titans beat the Golden Grizzlies full court press.
This game symbolizes what rivalry games are all about. Lovejoy, Geeter, and Nadeau combined for 72 points and even though Oakland’s seniors gave it their all, UDM showed that their program is going in the right direction and this victory today is just one example of how healthy their program is in Montgomery’s second year.
Now both these teams will play on Wednesday hosting their conference tournament games in hopes of winning the Horizon League crown and earning an invitation to the NCAA Tournament.
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