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Oakland center Percy Gibson walked toward the bench with a twinkle in his eye. He played well in the second half of the Golden Grizzlies 86-61 victory over UIC Sunday at the O'rena. He knew it. Teammates knew it and at least one spectator knew it.

"Good job Percy," someone shouted to him.

Gibson winked and gave a thumbs up sign. Minutes earlier his career appeared to be over.

Gibson defused a ticking time bomb which was placed in his lap by head coach Greg Kampe. Gibson did not play the first half because Kampe does not believe he is getting through to the senior transfer from Iowa State. Gibson is often more good guy than good player and was not good during the Golden Grizzlies home blowout loss to Valparaiso. The Crusaders controlled the middle which opened up their outside game.

The team needed a shake up and Gibson was either the scape goat or the happy go lucky guy that needed a swift kick.

During halftime Sunday Kampe gave a defining statement to Gibson and then threw him a life line that would be the difference between reviving his career or ending it.

"OK Percy you just saw we don't need you," Kampe told him in front of teammates. "Right? You just saw we don't need you."

For a moment it sounded like a death blow to Gibson's career. The Black and Gold was humming along, marching at a slower pace with Gibson watching and freshmen Brad Brechting and Xavier Hill-Mais doing a good job in the middle.

Brechting served as a much needed rim protector and Hill-Mais was a bundle of energy. It appeared as if they were going to be the go-to big men the remainder of the season. Then Kampe announced that Gibson would start the second half.

This was the life line Gibson needed.

"You are going to start the second half and I am just going to watch you," Kampe said. "You are either going to be the guy that has all the answers and no heart or you are going to say 'you know what I've got 15 games left in my life. I have played basketball my entire career for this purpose. Am I going to play or not play?' It is all up to you. I know Saturday we are going to play in Detroit and you really want to play there. I ain't going to play you because we don't need you."

The words were piercing, but Kampe challenged Gibson.

Gibson responded well and finished with nine points and two rebounds in the second half. What numbers didn't show was he was engaged, was more aggressive defensively and a better communicator on calling out defensive switches, although he can do better.

"I would not say it is to prove him wrong because we do have a lot of pieces on the team," Gibson said. "I know I can help my team and I had the opportunity to show him and I went out there and did that."

Teammates never for a moment believed this was it for Gibson.

"He (Kampe) is just using his vocabulary to get the best out of Percy saying he doesn't need him," said. guard Sherron Dorsey-Walker. "He really needs him. He is trying to get Percy to play to his full potential and play hard because we really (need) him. That's his way of getting it out of him."

Kampe has been on Gibson for most of the conference season. Gibson played his first three seasons at Iowa State where declining playing time brought him to Oakland. After sitting out last season, Gibson's career now consists of 15 games plus the Horizon League tournament. That is all he is guaranteed. He is learning a new system and if he gets it down, there will come a moment where Gibson will be needed in a big spot.

He's got the talent and muscle to battle with the better big men in the Horizon. The question is does he want to do it?

I've called for Gibson to be tougher and mean on the court. However, that might not be his nature.

"Percy is the brother that you would want to have," Kampe said. "He is a happy go lucky, always a joke, always smiling. He just goes about every day and he doesn't have a care in life. As a family member and as a brother you would love him, but would you want to go to war with him? That's what we've got to do."

His humor became evident during a brighter postgame speech. Kampe praised Gibson and talked about a rebound he went after like a heat seeking missile. Kampe joked that he thought Gibson was going to tear off Jalen Hayes' arm.

Gibson quipped: "Sorry Jalen."

It was a light moment during a day of heavy lifting.

Brechting turned up the heat on Gibson by taking advantage of just his second start of the season. He served as a rim protector, blocking two shots and finishing with 10 points and five rebounds. He communicated better with teammates and if he can perform like this Brechting will be the center of the future.

Hill-Mais is an energy guy in the mold of former Piston Jason Maxiell. The inside is bright for the Black and Gold, but this team needs Gibson to be the man for the remainder of the season.

Brechting and Hill-Mais are young. Their games will break down at times and they will lose focus as they learn about the collegiate game. Gibson can make or break this team. Does he want to be a guy you want to go to battle with? Or is he content with smiling and being a great guy?

"I definitely understand," Gibson said. "He expects so much from me and I understand that. This is my last go round so he wants me to do as much as possible and leave a legacy."

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