Midcon Men's tournament Day 4

Championship Game: ORU Eagles vs. Oakland Grizzlies.

Green hit a 3 to start things out off the opening tip. Kangas drove on King, Billings puts in the rebound. Here we go… Severovas swatted by King, but Kangas hits a 2. Liberty drives the lane and is fouled on the floor by Billings. Kangas blocked Caleb's shot but was called for the foul. Green hit both FTs. Severovas got the rebound and was fouled by Green, made 1 of 2. Tied at 5.

It's the final game and the place is STILL far from full! The place was packed to the rafters 2 years ago.

Hopes and Green traded baskets in the paint. Hard fought game so far. First media timeout (15:26), Oakland 9 ORU 8.

Kangas felt it tonight early on, hitting 2 3s and a 2. ORU had trouble hitting bunnies. At the 2nd media timeout, Oakland 17 ORU 12.

Oakland is now in a zone defense in the half court. ORU ran the shot clock down to 1 in its confusion. On the inbounds, the shot immediately went up, and King took the rebound back out front, but ORU was called for a travel. After the Oakland miss, Green hit a 2 footer in the paint. After another Oakland miss, Tutt drove the lane and drew a foul from Severovas. He hit both FTs to pull within 2, 18-16. Severovas drove the line for 2. Green faked twice and then with a shrug calmly hit the 3. Hopes responded with a 2 footer. Green hit another 3. You gonna dare me to shoot, I'm gonna shoot! At the 3rd media timeout, all tied at 22 (7:54).

The Mid-Con T-shirts still have the CSU logo on them. Didn't get rid of all of them last year, eh?

Oakland back in man-to-man. Tutt called for a charge. Severovas hits down low.

Then Oakland went to their "Find Kangas" offense, and he lit up ORU for 3 more 3's, though for one he needed the shooters roll. ORU tried their best to cover him, even double team him, but Oakland was running set plays to get him open and sooner or later they always found him. At the final media timeout: Oakland 36 ORU 30 (2:34). Kangas has 20 points already. Kampe was coach of the year, and he's sure shown it in this tournament, making sure his guys are prepared for every game, putting them into position to win every game.

ORU started strong in the 2nd half. Tutt had a 3 and a 2, King swatted a couple of shots away and had a breakaway dunk, with Hopes muscling in for a layup, to leave Oakland up by 6, 47-41 with 17:33 to go.

Fullcourt trap by ORU after Kampe's timeout. Oakland had a couple of false starts the first time down, but mostly they were able to break the press. Converting on it was another story. ORU cut the lead to 2, but Green committed his third foul guarding Hopes down low. At the first media timeout (14:44), Oakland 49 ORU 47, Hopes on the line to shoot 2. He missed the first, made the second.

Sango got free for a bunny to pull within 1. Kangas has missed so far this half. Sango put ORU up by 1, then Cassise drove the lane for a 3pt play to put Oakland back up by 2. Green tried to drive the baseline again but this time he walked. Severovas then muscled one up and in on Vealy, drawing the foul and hitting the FT, and just like Oakland was back up by 5. Tutt drove the lane with 8 foot runner up and in.

2nd media timeout: Oakland 58 ORU 55.

Hard fought battle, Kangas remained scoreless, King picked up his third and Vealy his fourth. This half the fouls start out lopsided the opposite way, 5 on ORU 1 on Oakland. With 6:46 to go at the 3rd media timeout, ORU leads by 1, 61-60.

Final media timeout: ORU 67 Oakland 61 (3:52).

Oakland did not fold, but they closed the gap and on two occasions Kangas missed shots that would have tied or put Oakland ahead. In the end, Oakland simply ran out of options. Final Score: ORU 71 Oakland 67.

ORU goes to the big dance for the 2nd straight year, and is hoping for better than a 16 seed this time.

Caleb Green passed Michael Watson as the new career scoring leader for the Mid-Con, but more importantly, he passed through the entire Oakland team, coaches and players, to shake their hands and extend his greetings, all while the rest of his team and all the maniacs rushed the court for the TV cameras. A VERY classy move by the Tourney MVP.