Box Score The Oakland University men's basketball team suffered its first loss at home Saturday, January 26 at the Athletics Ceneter O'rena against Valparaiso, 86-77. The Golden Grizzlies fall to 11-10 overall and 4-3 in Mid-Con play, while Valpo improves to 16-6 overall and 6-1 in conference action. Valparaiso came out scoring first on a layup by Raitis Grafs and connected on a free throw to move the Crusaders lead to three. Sophomore Mike Helms answered back with a basket of his own as the Golden Grizzlies never looked back in the first half going on a 9-0 run. OU headed into the half with a 40-37 lead. The Golden Grizzlies led by as many as 16 on two occasions in the first half. Valpo came out with a vengeance in the second half taking the lead with a three-pointer by Milo Stovall. The Golden Grizzlies could never relinquish the lead from the Crusaders as Valpo defeated Oakland for the seventh time in seven meetings. Seniors Mychal Covington (Pontiac/Northern) and Jason Rozycki (Boyne City/Boyne City) led the Grizzlies' offensive attack with 19 points apiece. Covington added seven boards, six assists and three steals. Rozycki finished with two rebounds, four assists and three steals. Helms (Detroit/Martin Luther King) ended the evening with 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and four steals. Brad Buddenborg (Garden City/Garden City) rounded out the double figure scoring with 10 points, two assists, one block and one steal. Stovall led the Crusaders with 24 points, four rebounds and three assists. Lubos Barton finished with 18 points including two crucial three-pointers in the second half, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Stalin Ortiz added 15 points, while Jared Nuness and Raitis Grafs pitched in 10 apiece for the Crusaders. Grafs added a team-leading 10 rebounds for a double-double. Valparaiso outrebounded the Grizzlies 34-33. OU shot 42 percent from the field compared to the Crusaders 51 percent. OU was 39 percent from behind the arc and hit only 18-for-30 (60 percent) from the free throw line. Valpo shot 42 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the charity stripe (24-32). Oakland will be in action again on Monday January 28 as the Golden Grizzlies travel to Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne. Game time is slated to begin at 7:30 pm EST.