HONOLULU, Hawaii - Isaiah Jones hit a game-winning layup with .3 seconds left to help lift the Golden Grizzlies over the Loyola Chicago Ramblers, 72-71, tonight in the quarterfinal round of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic inside SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

The Golden Grizzlies now face Oregon State in the semifinal round with a ticket to the championship game on the line tomorrow (Dec. 23), live on ESPN2, with tip-off set for 8:00 p.m. ET.

The Golden Grizzlies (4-7, 1-2 HL) were led by both Malcolm Christie and Allen Mukeba who notched career-highs with 20 points each, as Mukeba tied for the team-lead in rebounds with Buru Naivalurua with eight apiece. DQ Cole made up the final of the three Golden Grizzlies to notch double-digit points as he finished with 11.

The Ramblers (9-2, 0-0 A10) had four players in the double-digits for points, as Mile Rubin led the team with 21 points of 9-of-11 shooting from the floor. Rubin also led the Ramblers with nine boards as Jalen Quinn was behind with six.

The game opened with high-energy defense from both teams before Loyola Chicago struck first with a layup, but Oakland quickly responded with a Cole three-pointer to take an early 3-2 lead. Isaiah Jones made his presence felt with a strong layup in the paint at the 17:22 mark, keeping Oakland ahead. While Loyola managed to capitalize on a dunk, Oakland's ball movement and perimeter shooting gave them an edge. Cole drained another three-pointer at the 12:05 mark, extending Oakland's lead to 12-6.

Late in the half, Loyola clawed back, and shrunk Oakland's nine-point lead and took its own one-point lead with 2:08 to play. I. Jones regained the lead for the Golden Grizzlies which sparked a quick 7-0 for Oakland, capped off by a Cole three, as it closed out the first half on top, 33-27.

The Golden Grizzlies narrowly outshot the Ramblers as Oakland hit at a .440 mark from the floor (11-of-25) as Loyola shot at a .423 clip (11-of-26). The Ramblers won the battle of the boards after 20, as it had 17 rebounds compared to Oakland's 12. Oakland led for the majority of the frame, as it held the lead for 16:46 of time where Loyola only held a lead for 1:39.

Just like the end of the first half, the game remained to go back-and-forth as each team traded off baskets. The Ramblers threatened to retake a lead, and eventually knotted things up at 43 with 14:02 to go, but Mukeba laid one in to get back ahead. Oakland maintained its lead before a Mukeba dunk ignited the Golden Grizzlies offense.

A three and a layup from Oakland put the lead to double-digits with 2:32 to go, but the Ramblers had an answer and forced tough shots to follow for Oakland. The Ramblers went on an 11-points run, finished by a dunk with :21 seconds to go, as it took a 71-70 lead late.

The Golden Grizzlies missed a shot with :05 seconds left but were able to regain possession as the ball went off a Rambler and out of bounds. The ball was inbounded to Naivalurua who took a contested shot, as I. Jones found the rebound and got the shot off on time to take the lead with .3 seconds to go. The time was too little for the Ramblers to get its own shot off as the Golden Grizzlies held on to win, 72-71.

The Ramblers shot better in the second half, shooting at a .552 mark (16-of-29) compared to the Golden Grizzlies .421 clip (16-of-38). At the game's conclusion, Oakland sank nine shots from range, two more than Loyola. Oakland buffed up on the boards as it finished the game with six more rebounds than Loyola.

The Golden Grizzlies face Oregon State tomorrow (Dec. 23) live on ESPN2, with tip-off set for 8:00 p.m. ET. All Oakland games this season will be live streamed through audio via 97.1HD-3, The Bet1270 AM (WXYT-AM) & the Audacy App with Neal Ruhl on the call.