ROCHESTER, Mich. - The rivalry between Oakland University and the University of Detroit Mercy, the Metro Series, will get a boost from the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame (MSHOF) and PASS Charters, announced Director of Athletics Jeff Konya on Monday. The winner of the Metro Series will get $10,000 in scholarship funding and the newly created Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Cup will be awarded to the winning teams between men's basketball and women's basketball.

"We are excited that PASS Charters and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame see the value in this great intercollegiate rivalry," said Konya. "I am very thankful to PASS Charters owner Bill Larkin for his generous donation that will help student-athletes at Oakland University and UDM," said Konya. "The addition of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Cup will increase brand awareness for the Metro Series. I want to thank Oakland alumnus and Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director Jim Stark for his vision of this rivalry."

The Golden Grizzlies and Titans are currently tied 4-4 in the Metro Series through fall competition. Oakland opened the competition with a thrilling 2-1 double-overtime victory in men's soccer in Detroit, but fell to the Titans in women's soccer by that same tally. Oakland and UDM split the cross country competition at the Horizon League Championships. The next clash between the Golden Grizzlies and Titans will be in men's basketball on Saturday, Jan. 10, for a 3 p.m. tip inside Calihan Hall.

The Michigan Sports Hall of Fame Cup will be awarded separately for the men's basketball and women's basketball teams. In an event of a tie for the inaugural season, the squad that finishes with the highest ranking inside the RPI will win the cup. For the following seasons, the team that wins the cup the previous year will retain the cup.

"The Hall of Fame is pleased and honored to be officially represented in the expanding basketball rivalry between Oakland University and the University of Detroit Mercy," said Jim Stark. "With its long history of sports success, UDM has several distinguished alumni in our Hall including hoop legends Bob Calihan and Dave DeBusschere. Oakland is creating a growing legacy of its own under Greg Kampe, who was a finalist for our 2015 Class of Inductees. We look forward to a spirited competition between both the men's and women's teams for the new MSHOF Cup!"

A look at the basketball match-ups:
Jan. 10 - Oakland at Detroit, 3 p.m. - Calihan Hall (men's basketball) - WADL-TV/ESPN3
Jan. 22 - Oakland at Detroit, 7 p.m. - Calihan Hall (women's basketball) - ESPN3
Feb. 15 - Detroit at Oakland, 3 p.m. - O'rena - TV20/Comcast 900/ESPN3 MSHOF Cup awarded
Feb. 18 - Detroit at Oakland, 7 p.m. - O'rena - Comcast 900/ESPN3 MSHOF Cup awarded

#WearTheBear #MetroSeries