Oakland outlasts Youngstown State in 2021 Horizon League Tournament

The game between Oakland and Youngstown State was back and forth early and at times both times turned the ball over more than they wanted. With just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Oakland led 18-12 over the Penguins behind the solid play of 1st team all-Horizon League player Jalen Moore. At the 7:58 mark, the Golden Grizzlies extended their lead to eight as the score was 23-15. Moore had 10 early points and was able to get to the basket at will.

Micah Parris for Oakland played well early with six points extending the Golden Grizzlie lead to 10. However, Youngstown State behind the hot shooting of Garrett Covington cut the lead to four with just over six minutes remaining. Penguins start player Darius Quisenberry cut Oakland’s lead to only three on the made three-pointer from the wing. Both teams would trade baskets but the Golden Grizzlies were able to keep their lead.

After a pair of made free throws by Quisenberry, Youngstown State once again cut the lead to only three. The Penguins Shemar Rathan-Mayes made a mid-range jumper to give Oakland only a one-point lead. Quisenberry with just under a minute remaining in the first half made a three-pointer to tie the game up at 36 points apiece. The Golden Grizzlies Daniel Oladapo would make a free throw to give Oakland a one-point halftime lead.

At the half, Moore and Parish both lead Oakland with 10 points each. For Youngstown State, Quisenberry and Covington both had 11 points entering the second half. The Golden Grizzlies struggled with eleven first-half turnovers while the Penguins got dominated in the paint giving up 22 points. Oaklands 1-3-1 aggressive defense resulted in six first-half steals and once Quisenberry switched to Moore on defense, Moore was limited going to the basket for the last eight minutes of the 1st half.

Oakland’s Rashad Williams started off the second half scoring with a nice layup. Willams was then fouled on a three-point attempt and made all of his three free throws. On the next offensive possession, he was fouled again, and he made both of his free throws to give the Golden Grizzlies an early six-point lead.  Moore then got going and made a contestant layup to make the score 48-40 with just over 16 minutes remaining in the game.

Covington made a layup for Youngstown State to cut the Golden Grizzlies lead to eight with just over 14 minutes remaining. Williams then responded with a made three-pointer to extend Oakland’s lead to 11. The Penguins with just under 12 minutes remaining in the 2nd half, cut the Golden Grizzlies lead to seven.

Oladapo would make a contested layup and give Oakland a 10 point lead. Covington would make an and one and cut the Penguins lead to only five. The Golden Grizzlies Zion Young would respond with an and one of his own to give Oakland an eight-point lead. Then Moore would make an and one of his own to widen the Golden Grizzlie lead to 11 once again.

Youngstown State looked like it suffered a big loss when Quisenberry appeared to hurt his left ankle but he got back up and appeared to be okay. Rathan-Mayes would make a three-pointer and Covington would make a floating jumper to cut the Golden Grizzlies lead to only six. Geoff Hamperian would make a three from the wing to make it only a three-point game. Covington would make a three from the corner to tie the game up at 62 with just over five minutes remaining.

Williams would answer with a made three-pointer of his own to give Oakland back the lead. Then on the next Oakland possession, he would make three from the corner. Then after a Penguins basket, Williams would make his third straight three-pointer to give Oakland a 71-66 lead with 3:19 remaining in the game.

Youngstown State Michael Akuche would make a three from at top of the key to cut the Golden Grizzlies lead to only one. After a review on a charge call, Youngstown State’s Naz Bohannon would make an and-one to give the Penguins the lead. Oladapo would make a layup to tie the game. The game would go to overtime as both teams failed to score on their last offensive possessions.

In overtime, Quisenberry would give Youngstown State a three-point lead on a made three from the wing. Trey Townsend for Oakland would respond with a three of his own from the wing to tie the game up at 76. After a made layup by the Penguins Covington, Oladapo would make a basket of his own to tie it up at 78.

After a missed running jumper by Moore, Oladapo grabbed the ball and made a layup to give Oakland a two-point lead. Moore would redeem himself on the next offensive possession and attack the basket and make a contested layup. He then with just under a minute left would make another layup to give the Golden Grizzlies a six-point lead.

With 16.6 seconds left, Oakland’s Zion Young would make both of his free throws to give Oakland a six-point lead. Youngstown State though responded with another Covington three-pointer to cut the Golden Grizzlies lead to three.  However, Moore would make a free throw to give Oakland an 87-83 victory.

Covington would lead all scorers with 30 points for Youngstown State in the loss. Oakland was lead by Williams and his 22 points with Moore finishing 20. Oakland advances to the semifinals that will be held Monday in Indianapolis.