Mukeba scores 22, guides Oakland to 91-86 overtime victory over Cleveland State

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — In a thrilling overtime matchup, Allen David Mukeba Jr. powered the Oakland Golden Grizzlies to a narrow victory over Cleveland State, finishing with 22 points in a 91-86 win on Sunday night.

Mukeba also contributed significantly on the boards, pulling down 12 rebounds for his team, which improved to 13-16 overall and 10-8 in the Horizon League. Jayson Woodrich was another key player for Oakland, scoring 20 points with an efficient shooting performance, making 7 of 13 shots, including 6 of 12 from three-point territory. D.Q. Cole also played a pivotal role, scoring 19 points while shooting 4 of 10 overall, including 2 of 8 from beyond the arc. He also excelled at the free-throw line, converting 9 of 10 attempts, and tallied eight assists alongside seven rebounds.

In a crucial moment, Isaiah Jones gave Oakland an 83-81 edge with a layup with just 1:51 remaining. Cole would go on to contribute by making 7 of 8 free throws, sealing the victory for the Golden Grizzlies. Mukeba’s late layup tied the game at 77 with only 28 seconds left in regulation, and after Cleveland State’s Je’Shawn Stevenson missed a last-second jumper, the game transitioned into overtime.

Chase Robinson led the Vikings with a strong performance, scoring 18 points along with four assists and two steals. Cleveland State, which now stands at 19-10 on the season and 13-5 in the conference, also saw notable contributions from Stevenson, who finished with 16 points and three steals, and Tahj Staveskie, who added 15 points to the total.