GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Detroit Mercy (6-16, 4-5 HL) | Friday, Jan. 31 - 7 PM | Calihan Hall | Detroit, MI
 
COVERAGE BROADCAST
ESPN3 | TALENT: Jeremy Otto (PxP) and Earl Cureton (analyst) | RADIO: WDFN-AM (1130), iHeart Radio app | TALENT: Neal Ruhl (PxP) and Dan Waterstradt (analyst)

ROCHESTER, Michigan - Oakland University men's basketball travels to in-state rival Detroit Mercy for the next chapter in the Metro Series. The Golden Grizzlies have won a program-best six straight over the Titans. 

Last time the two sides met, senior forward Xavier Hill-Mais went for the 10th double-double of his career - finishing with 19 points and 10 rebounds - to lead the Golden Grizzlies to a 78-69 victory. Senior center Brad Brechting pulled down 10 boards in the effort as freshman Blake Lampman went 4-of-9 from range on his way to the first of two Nike #HLMBB Freshman of the Week plaudits. 

Oakland's defense held the Horizon League's Preseason Player of the Year, Antoine Davis, scoreless from inside the arc. 

Against IUPUI last time out, the Golden Grizzlies offense eclipsed the 80-point mark for just the second time this season. Five different scorers hit double digits - the third time Oakland has accomplished the feat this season. 

In the last four road games, the Golden Grizzlies have jumped out to early double-figure leads - +10 at Milwaukee, +15 at Green Bay, +12 at Cleveland State, +13 at Youngstown State - all within the first 12 minutes of play. 

Detroit was 2-10 coming in the first matchup this season at the O'Rena on December 28. Since, the Titans are 4-6.

For Detroit, sophomore Chris Brandon is averaging 10.0 ppg., and 11.9 rpg., in league play, shooting 75.9-percent (41-of-54) from the field with three double-doubles. Sophomore Antoine Davis ranks fourth in the country and leads the Horizon League in scoring at 23.3 points per game and has netted 14 games with 20 or more points and four 30-point outings on the year.

The Golden Grizzlies and Titans branded a rivalry in 2014 that includes competition between the shared 14 intercollegiate sports. Two points are awarded to the school that picks up the victory. In the sport of cross country, golf, track and field, the school with the highest finish at the Horizon League Championships will be awarded the two points. 

The Golden Grizzlies have dominated the rivalry over the first five seasons, outscoring the Titans 136-38 and currently lead this season's 11-1. 

Inside the Series
Overall: Detroit leads 13-12
At Home: 7-1
At Detroit: 5-12
At Neutral: 0-0
Current Streak: Oakland, 6
Last Meeting: W, 78-69 (at the O'rena, 12/28/19)
Series Note: Oakland's last lost at Detroit was on Jan. 10, 2015

Notes

• Oakland has had at least three scorers in double figures in 10-straight outings. The Golden Grizzlies have had five double-digit scorers three times this year (vs Goshen,vs Wright State, vs IUPUI) .The last time the Golden Grizzlies had just one double-digit scorer was against No. 16/15 Michigan State on Dec. 14.
• Oakland moved up the active three-point streak list with Vanderbilt going 0-for-25 on Jan. 18 against Tennessee. The Commodores streak lasted 34 years - 1,080-straight games. The Golden Grizzlies have made at least one triple in 992-straight games. (UNLV 1,090 | Duke 1,078 | Western Kentucky 1,028 | Arkansas 1,027)
• For the first time this season, Oakland committed fewer than 10 turnovers as a team last time out vs IUPUI. The last time Oakland committed fewer than 10 turnovers was at Youngstown State on Jan. 31, 2019 - the Golden Grizzlies turned it over just nine times against the Penguins. The seven turnovers this afternoon is the lowest since giving up just four in last year's season opener against Toledo on Nov. 9, 2018 - Oakland committed just four turnovers in the effort.
• Kevin Kangu matched his career high with nine assists vs IUPUI on Jan. 25. Kangu dished out nine helpers on Nov. 10, 2019, against Southern Illinois. Kangu leads the team with 81 assists on the season.
• The 85 points by Oakland last time out is the most since scoring 94 against Goshen in the season opener on Nov. 5, 2019. This afternoon's game was just the second time this year the Golden Grizzlies have gone for 80 or more in a game. 
• Oakland is 0-2 in overtime games this season - lost to Fairfield on Dec. 21, 61-59, lost to IUPUI on Jan. 25, 89-85. Both contests were played at the O'Rena.
• Over the Ohio and Wisconsin road trips from Jan. 9-Jan. 18 Oakland jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first half in each contest - +10 at Milwaukee, +15 at Green Bay, +12 at Cleveland State, +13 at Youngstown State. The Golden Grizzlies took a lead into half in three of the four outings: +3 at Green Bay, +3 at Cleveland State, +4 at Youngstown State, -4 at Milwaukee. Oakland went 1-3 over the four-game road stretch. The Golden Grizzlies lost by an average of 3.3 ppg over their past three losses. 
• Freshman guard Blake Lampman made his second start of the season vs IUPUI on Jan 25 - first since Dec. 7 at Bowling Green. Lampman was joined by Williams, Maddox Jr., Brechting and Hill-Mais in the starting lineup. Williams and Brechting are the lone Golden Grizzlies to start every game they have dressed for this season. Oakland has had 10 different starting lineups this season - six since the start of league play.