Oakland Basketball: Takeaways and observations from loss to Michigan State

Oakland Basketball went on the road for their final non-conference game of the year as they played an in-state opponent in Michigan State.

The Golden Grizzlies head coach Greg Kampe plays a tough non-conference schedule in order to have his team ready for conference play. Prior to traveling to play the Spartans, Oakland  Basketball this season has traveled and played at Xavier, Michigan, Purdue, and Oklahoma State.

In the Golden Grizzlies game against the Wolverines, they went to overtime before losing the game and they were only down one point against the Cowboys. However, Oakland did struggle in the games in the MTE that Xavier hosted as well as on the road against Purdue.

Rashad Williams showed why he could be one of the best three-point and free throw shooters 

Going back to last season when he became eligible halfway through the season, Williams made seven three-pointers, made 14 out of 15 free throws, and 37 total points in a road win against Detroit Mercy. The following game he made eight three-pointers, was four for five from the free-throw line and had 34 points in a three-point road loss against Northern Kentucky.

Following those two breaks out games, Williams would make five three-pointers in three games and four three-pointers in two games. This season Williams on the road against Oklahoma State, made a career-high 10 3-pointers and against Michigan, he made two free throws with 28 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

Against Michigan State, his first three-point attempt was partially blocked. However, his second made three-point attempt gave Michigan State a 5-3 lead early and he followed it up with an impressive drive to the basket to give the Golden Grizzles a 7-6, early lead.

Williams halfway through the first half had 10 points on four for six shooting. Williams would have 16 points early points on 50% shooting that helped Oakland cut the Michigan State lead to only two-point with just over four minutes remaining in the first half.

With just over a minute left in the first half, Williams was six from 10 from beyond the arc with 22 points. He shot 8 for 15 from the field and cut the Spartan’s lead to four points. To point in perspective, he had over half the total points for Oakland in the first half with 23 total points.

In the second half, Michigan State’s Aaron Henry guarded Williams early on not allowing him to get the looks early in the second half. Regardless, Williams made an early three-pointer and Henry switching to him limited his offensive production for the first six minutes of the second half. With just over six minutes remaining in the game, Williams had 33 points. Then with just over five minutes remaining in the game, he made his eighth three of the game.

Williams ended the game with 36 points on 12 for 28 shooting. He also made eight three-pointers and was four from five from the free-throw line.  He played fairly well on defense as well and ended up with four steals for the game.

Point guard Jalen Moore had an impressive second half

Moore was able to get some open looks making two-three points and making two free throws in the first six minutes of the second half. With just over eight minutes left in the game, he had 18 second-half points on six for eight shooting and three for four from beyond the arch.

With just over five minutes left in the game, Moore had 26 points with 21 points coming in the second half. Moore ended the game by shooting eight for fifteen from the field and was an impressive five for seven from beyond the arc and five for eight from the free-throw line. He also had two rebounds, five assists, and two steals for the game.

Oakland getting good contributions from their freshmen

Trey Townsend a freshman who starts at the power forward position made the first basket of the game for Oakland. Even though he only made one of his first four free throw attempts, he was aggressive on the offensive end and had a nice block early.

Micah Parrish is the other freshman who starts for the Golden Grizzles as the small forward position. He struggled early in the game but has a nice steal early. Parrish despite missing his first two free throws, made two of his first three shot attempts and was aggressive in the 1-3-1 Golden Grizzlies defense.

Just over midway through the second half, Parrish and Townsend each made make both field goal attempts and helped limit the Michigan State big men on the defensive end. They didn’t take too many shots due to Williams and Moore playing so well on the offensive end.

Parrish ended the game with six points on 75% shooting from the field and he had three rebounds, two assists, and two steals for the game. Townsend finished the game with five points and made all of his shots from the floor. He also had two rebounds, two blocks, and three assists.

The Golden Grizzlies 1-3-1 Zone Defense was able to slow down the high-powered Spartan offense in the 1st half

The Spartans briefly had a nine-point lead early in the game. However, the Golden Grizzlies started to mix in some zone defense about halfway through the first half. Then Oakland transition to an effective 1-3-1 zone defense that shrunk the Spartan’s lead to four points that held Michigan State to a two-plus minute scoring drought before a steal by Michigan State lead to a breakaway layup.

Just as they did against Michigan the strategy of the 1-3-1 zone defense for head coach Greg Kampe was effective in the first half. With approximately less than six minutes remaining in the first half, the Golden Grizzlies was within two points of the Spartans with the score being 33-31.

Oakland was only down four points at the half and a big part of that was because of their 1-3-1 zone defense. Even though Michigan State scored 109 points in the game, Oakland played better defensively than the final score indicates.