ROCHESTER, Mich. –  The O'rena was rocking Thursday evening as the Oakland Men's Basketball took the court for the first time for the 2022-23 season, in what was a comfortable victory for the Golden Grizzlies as they cruised past the Grand Valley State University Lakers 92-76 in exhibition play. 

The first half of the game featured sound play on both ends of the hardwood for Oakland. Jalen Moore started things off on the right foot by stealing a stray Grand Valley pass on the very first defensive possession. 

That would be the first of four first half steals from the Cloverdale, Indiana native. Moore was not only in mid-season form defensively, but offensively as well.

In just the first half, Moore poured in 23 points from the field and did it on incredible efficiency, shooting 5-for-6 from the field, 1-for-2 from three-point range, and 12-for-13 from the charity stripe. 

With a few minutes left to go in the first half, Moore stole the ball for the fourth time of the first half, leading to an Oakland fast-break that resulted in Moore tossing the ball off the backboard to Keaton Hervey for the alley-oop slam. 

OHHHHHH MYYYYYY 😳@treyt430 pic.twitter.com/AbhRCeFYVF

— Oakland Basketball (@OaklandMBB) October 20, 2022

Other first half standouts included Blake Lampman, Rocket Watts, and Trey Townsend.

Lampman played outstanding defense, stifling the GVSU offense multiple times under the net. The Haslett, Michigan native also scored the first Oakland points of the season with a three-pointer.

Townsend rose up to the rim twice in the first half of play, once running the baseline and receiving the pass from Watts, the other in transition as the 6-foot-6 Oxford, Michigan native stole the ball around half-court and showed his verticality with a vicious one-handed slam.
 

We have a feeling we may be seeing this a lot. 🤷 pic.twitter.com/NUDFgcVrD8

— Oakland Basketball (@OaklandMBB) October 20, 2022

  

Lampman would kick off the second half for Oakland just as he did in the first by sinking a three-pointer. Moore would also continue his stellar play into the latter half of play by landing another shot from beyond the arc, among other buckets.  

Moore would end the night as Oakland's leading scorer, posting 32 points, four assists, five rebounds, and four steals. Moore led the team on the night in points, assists, and steals. 

The second half of play would feature many faces new to the Golden Grizzlies. Brody Parker, Dominic Capriotti, Evan Solomon and Cooper Craggs all made their first appearances as members of the Oakland Men's Basketball team. 

Craggs made an impact off the bench immediately after coming in by rebounding a missed shot and following it up with a putback layup. Parker saw seven minutes of action, hitting both of his free throws and tallying an assist. 

The game concluded in a 92-76 victory for the Golden Grizzlies, making them 1-0 in exhibition play so far in the 2022-23 season. 

STATS OF THE NIGHT 

• 32 points, four assists, four steals, and five rebounds for Moore. 
• 14 points and eight rebounds from Hervey. 
• Eight points and three rebounds from Townsend. 
• First appearance from Capriotti, Solomon, Parker, and Craggs. 

Oakland will next take on Rochester University on November 1 at 7:00 pm at Garth Pleasant Arena.