MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin - The Oakland University men's basketball team dropped its second-straight on Saturday, January 18, falling to Milwaukee, 73-68. Senior forward Xavier Hill-Mais led the Golden Grizzlies for the 12th time this season, recording 20 points. 

Hill-Mais' 20-point performance was the third of his season and 17th of his career. Senior center Brad Brechting went for double-digits for the second-straight game for the third time this year, finishing with 12 points to go with five boards. Hill-Mais also pulled down five rebounds in the effort. 

Freshman guard Blake Lampman rounded out the Golden Grizzlies' double-figure scorers with 10. Lampman hit three triples - he has knocked down at least three from range nine times this season. 

The foul line was a sore spot for Oakland, as the Golden Grizzlies combined for 10-of-19. The Panthers shot 75-percent from the charity stripe, hitting 12-of-16. It was the seventh time this season Oakland shot less than 60-percent from the free throw line. 

Te'Jon Lucas led Milwaukee with 20 points and seven assists. DeAndre Abram and C.J. Wilbourn ended the night with eight boards apiece. 

The Golden Grizzlies were within a bucket on three occasions in the final 90 seconds, but couldn't find the equalizer. Oakland missed a pair of free throws with 12 seconds left that could have cut the deficit to one. 

Hill-Mais clawed the Golden Grizzlies to within a point with 4:56 to play with an 'and-one' play. Milwaukee kept coming up with answers though, pushing its lead out to five twice before the under-four media. 

Freshman Blake Lampman cut the deficit to two with 9:49 to play, bringing the Golden Grizzlies the closest they had been since trailing 24-23 with 7:34 to play. The Panthers responded though with a 5-0 run to matched its largest lead of seven, 55-48. 

The offensive glass was a major factor in the opening 20 minutes, as Milwaukee turned eight boards into 12 second-chance points. The Panthers finished the game with 18 offensive rebounds. 

Oakland picked up five fouls in less than three minutes midway through the first half that sparked a 14-2 Milwaukee run and gave the Panthers a lead they'd hold onto for the remainder of the game. 

The Golden Grizzlies opened hot from the floor for the second-straight game, knocking down 4-of-7 from beyond the arc to build an early double-digit lead, 19-9, with 12:42 to play in the first. Last time out at Green Bay, Oakland jumped out to a quick 11-0 lead, making its first three shots from the field. 

The Golden Grizzlies return home for a pair of Horizon League contests against UIC and IUPUI. Oakland hosts the Flames on Thursday, January 23, before turning around to square off with the Jaguars on Saturday, January 25. 

On Friday, January 24, Oakland University Athletics will host the Hollie L. Lepley Hall of Honor induction ceremony. This year's ceremony will take place at the Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac. The event is open to the public and those interested in attending can find more registration information at GoldenGrizzlies.com.

Notes

• Madison Monroe returned to the starting lineup for his fifth start of the season. Monroe was joined by Rashad Williams, Brad Brechting, Xavier Hill-Mais and Tray Maddox Jr. This combo is the ninth different starting lineup for the Golden Grizzlies this season. 
• The three-point streak was extended to 990 by Tray Maddox Jr. The last time Oakland did not convert a shot from behind the arc was on Jan. 30, 1988 vs. Wayne State University. The Golden Grizzlies have hit a three-ball in 990-consecutive games, which is the seventh-longest streak in the NCAA.
• Tray Maddox Jr. is resetting his three-point streak, having knocked down at least one triple in back-to-back outings. Maddox Jr. had a streak of 10-straight games that was snapped at Cleveland State on Jan. 11. 
• Blake Lampman has hit at least one three-pointer in five-straight games and at least three triples nine times this season. 
• Xavier Hill-Mais finished with 20 points - marking his 16th-straight outing with double-digit points and 19th this season. 
• Brad Brechting's 12 points marked back-to-back outings for the Cedar Springs native with double digits. Brechting tallied 26 points last time out at Green Bay on Jan. 16. Brechting has put together consecutive double-digit efforts three times this season - he has yet to hit 10-plus in three-straight games this year. 
• Oakland has had at least three scorers in double figures in eight-straight outings. The Golden Grizzlies have had five double-digit scorers twice this year. The last time the Golden Grizzlies had just one double-digit scorer was against No. 16/15 Michigan State on Dec. 14.
• Rashad Williams fouled out with 15.6 seconds remaining in the game with Milwaukee leading, 70-68.