ROCHESTER, Michigan - The Oakland University men's basketball team stumbled late against Fairfield, 61-59, in overtime on Saturday, December 21, at the Athletics Center O'rena. Senior Xavier Hill-Mais paced the Golden Grizzlies for the seventh time this season, finishing with 18 points to go with six rebounds. 

Senior Brad Brechting recorded his second double-double of the year, pulling down a season-high 13 boards and scoring 10 points. Junior Daniel Oladapo hit double figures for the first time since December 3 at Western Michigan. Oladapo had a game-high 12 points at the half and finished with 16 and eight rebounds. 

Oakland combined for 39-percent from the floor, and for the ninth time this campaign, outrebounded its opponent, finishing with a +3 margin on the glass. 

Jesus Cruz tallied a game-high 23 points for the Stags. Taj Benning finished in double figures as well with 10.  

Neither side could find a rhythm from beyond the arc, going a combined 7-for-37 from deep. The Golden Grizzlies shot just 14-percent, knocking down just 3-of-21. 

Fairfield battled back from down 13 with 5:53 to play thanks to a 15-2 run to close out regulation. Oakland committed seven of its 20 turnovers over the stretch. 

Despite the late stumble, the Golden Grizzlies had a look to win. Out of a timeout with 24.5 to play, Benning fired an off-target triple that was hauled in by Hill-Mais. 

Out of a timeout by Oakland, with 10.2 on the clock, the ball was inbounded to Tray Maddox Jr., who swung it around to Blake Lampman. The Haslett, Michigan, native found Hill-Mais in the lane, but the attempt drew iron.  

Fairifeld took its first lead since the 6:24 mark in the first half in overtime, 55-53. Trailing by as many as five in extra time, the Golden Grizzlies clawed back to once again have a chance at the buzzer, but the last second triple from just past center court would not go. 

The series between Oakland and Fairfield has been decided by two or less points in both outings, with the sides splitting the decisions. The Golden Grizzlies went on the road a year ago to defeat the Stags, 87-86. 

Oakland's non-conference slate has concluded with Saturday's loss. The Golden Grizzlies stay home to host Detroit on Saturday, December 28. Oakland has claimed 11 of the past 14 against the Titans, including five straight. The game will be a White Out.  

Notes

• The Golden Grizzlies have been a force on the glass, outrebounding their opponents in nine of 13 outings this season. Oakland came into today with a margin of +4.1 and is just coming off outrebounding Syracuse, 34-29. The Golden Grizzlies rank second in the league in rebounding, trailing Youngstown State who is holding a margin of +4.8. 
• Saturday's game was just the third home game for the Golden Grizzlies this season. Oakland knocked off Goshen, 94-66, to open the campaign, before defeating Hartford, 60-50, on November 18. The Golden Grizzlies played six-straight games away from the O'rena coming into the matchup with the Stags.
• For the second-straight outing freshman Madison Monroe appeared in the starting five with Brad Brechting, Xavier Hill-Mais, Daniel Oladapo and Tray Maddox Jr. 
• Saturday's game marked the end of Oakland's non-conference slate. The Golden Grizzlies stay home to host Detroit on Saturday, December 28. Oakland has claimed 11 of the past 14 against the Titans, including five straight. The game will be a White Out! 
• Junior Kevin Kangu was the first man off the bench with 16:56 remaining in the half. Kangu checked in for Madison Monroe. 
• Kevin Kangu kept the Oakland three-point streak alive, hitting a triple early into the second half. The last time Oakland did not convert a shot from behind the arc was on Jan. 30, 1988 vs. Wayne State University. UNLV, Princeton and Vanderbilt are the only three schools to make a 3-pointer in every game since the inclusion of a 3-point line in 1986-87. The Golden Grizzlies have hit a three-ball in 982-consecutive games, which is the seventh-longest streak in the NCAA. 
• Hill-Mais' 18 points marks the 12th time this season in 13 outings the senior has reached double figures. He has scored double digits in nine-straight games, and has 47 career outings with 10+ points. 
• Brad Brechting had a game-high 13 rebounds. It was Brechting's seventh double-digit rebounding effort of his career and second this season. Brechting pulled down 12 boards against Southern Illinois on November 10. 
• Brechting's double-double is the second of the season and seventh of his career. 
• The last time Oakland played an overtime game was November 13, 2018, against Western Michigan in the O'rena. The Golden Grizzlies dropped the game, 85-77. Oakland's last overtime victory was on November 27, 2017, against Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 93-86.