ROCHESTER, Mich - The Golden Grizzlies outlasted the Mastodons, 75-65, to advance to the semifinal round of the #HLMBB Tournament tonight inside the OU Credit Union O'rena.
 
The Golden Grizzlies (21-11, 15-5 HL) were led by Rocket Watts who led the Golden Grizzlies charge with his 18 points (7-of-10) as Trey Townsend led off the glass with 11 boards. DQ Cole, who shot 6-of-8, was right behind Watts with 14 total points.
 
The Mastodons (21-12, 11-9 HL) saw three players in the double figures for points, as Rasheed Bello led the way with 16 points, as Eric Mulder led the way off the glass with eight boards.
 
Townsend struck first for the Golden Grizzlies as he intercepted a pass and went down the floor for a two. The Mastodons grabbed two, but Osei Price stormed down the floor and slammed one home. Purdue Fort Wayne answered with a three, but Chris Conway hit a rare three pointer as the momentum was on Oakland's side as home court advantage played a factor early.
 
Oakland kept it rolling as it proceeded on a 13-0 run as the Mastodons were held scoreless for over six minutes of play. The Mastodons ended its drought with a three, followed by a two, but Conway answered with a two-handed jam. The teams proceeded to exchange a pair of three as the Mastodons started to find its offense slightly, but Oakland kept pace to remain ahead.
 
Cole pushed the lead to 12 after he hit from range and followed it up with a hard drive to the net for two. The Golden Grizzlies continued to push ahead as it grew its lead to the largest of the first half at 14, as Cole tacked on another pair of points. The Mastodons nearly cut the lead to single digits, but Jack Gohlke was left wide open at the top of the three-point line and drilled one for the 14-point lead. The Mastodons tacked on a trio of points as Oakland held the lead after the first 20, 38-27.
 
Cole led the Golden Grizzlies in the first half and was the only player to enter the locker room with double-digit points with 14 (6-of-7). Oakland shot at a .471 (16-of-34) clip from the floor with four from range, as the Mastodons were 10-of-27 (.370) with five makes from downtown. Off the glass, Oakland brought down 19 boards compared to Purdue Fort Wayne's 15.
 
The defense came out strong in the opening minute of play as Conway swatted one away, followed by a block by Blake Lampman, as Conway made a quick two down on the other end of the floor. Lampman kept it rolling as he drilled a fadeaway jay to make it 42-27, while Watts went coast-to-coast and put some finesse on his moves as he went up and under the basket for a lay-in.
 
The Mastodons finally got its first basket at the 15:32 of the second half as it cut its 17-point deficit to 14, but Oakland came roaring back as a stepback two from Watts quickly put it to 18. Price stole a bad pass as Gohlke came down and hit a jumper while getting fouled and converted for the three-point play. Oakland converted off another Mastodon turnover, as Tuburu Naivalurua stole a pass, fed it to Cole, and found a streaking Townsend for an open dunk to force a Purdue Fort Wayne timeout.
 
The Mastodons stopped the Golden Grizzlies 9-0 run as it cut the game down to 57-36, and followed it up with a free throw and a three to make it a 17-point game. Lampman put it back to a 20-point lead, however, as he hit another from range to make it 60-40, Oakland. A flagrant on the Golden Grizzlies gave the Mastodons two free throws, which it made, and the ball as it grabbed a layup to make it a 15-point game.
 
The teams went on to trade points as Gohlke hit another three, but the Mastodons answered to put the Golden Grizzlies lead back to 15. Both teams missed on its following possession, but Oakland came down with the offensive board to reset the shot clock as the Mastodons were running out of time. Purdue Fort Wayne started to claw back, however, as it made it a 10-point game with 2:24 to go and started to press hard on defense.
 
Purdue Fort Wayne turned it on as it hit a three to make it a seven-point game, followed by a turnover to retain the ball. The Mastodons missed on it as Watts made a shot, but Purdue Fort Wayne continued its 14-2 run with a three to push the Golden Grizzlies lead to six. Lampman eased the run with two free throws as a late heave from three saw air as Oakland had the ball with :38 seconds to go.
 
Watts put the game on ice as he drilled a pair of free throws as the Oakland defense pressed and forced a turnover with :25 seconds to play. One final three was no good as the Golden Grizzlies held on for the win, 75-65.
 
The Mastodons maintained its shooting percentage in the second half as it shot at a .394 (13-of-33) clip as it added seven threes for a total of 12. Overall, Oakland shot 27-of-53 (.509) as it tacked on six threes and only missed one from the free throw line. Off the boards, Oakland led, 34-30, as the Mastodons only made seven free throws.
 
The Golden Grizzlies now set off for Indianapolis as it will play in the semifinal round of the Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament and will face no. 7 seed Cleveland State, set for Monday at either 7:00 p.m. ET, or 9:30 p.m. ET. The 7:00 p.m. ET game will be live on ESPNU, while the 9:30 p.m. ET game will be live on ESPN2. All Oakland games this season will be live streamed through audio via The Bet1270 AM (WXYT-AM) & the Audacy App with Neal Ruhl on the call.