ROCHESTER, Mich. (AP) — Rocket Watts led Oakland over Purdue Fort Wayne on Thursday night with 18 points off of the bench in a 75-65 win in the Horizon League Tournament.
Watts shot 7 of 10 from the field and 4 for 4 from the free-throw line for the Golden Grizzlies (21-11). D.Q. Cole went 6 of 8 from the field (2 for 3 from 3-point range) to add 14 points. Chris Conway finished 5 of 6 from the field to finish with 11 points, while adding four blocks.
Rasheed Bello finished with 16 points and five assists for the Mastodons (21-12). Jalen Jackson added 15 points and two steals for Purdue Fort Wayne. Anthony Roberts also had 13 points.
Oakland took the lead with 16:45 left in the first half and did not give it up. Cole led their team in scoring with 14 points in the first half to help put them ahead 38-27 at the break. Oakland used a 9-0 run in the second half to build a 23-point lead at 57-34 with 12:17 left in the half before finishing off the win.
The Grizzlies play No. 7 seed Cleveland State on Monday in the semifinals at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis.
