GAME 30: OAKLAND MEN’S BASKETBALL TRAVELS TO IUPUI

Oakland University men’s basketball closes out the regular season on the road, starting with IUPUI on Thursday in Indianapolis.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
IUPUI (6-23, 2-14 HL) | Thursday, Feb. 27 - 7 PM | Indiana Farmers Coliseum | Indianapolis, Indiana

COVERAGE BROADCAST
ESPN+ | RADIO: WDFN-AM (1130), iHeart Radio app | TALENT: Neal Ruhl (PxP)

ROCHESTER, Michigan - The Oakland University men's basketball team closes out its regular season on the road with a pair of contests against IUPUI and UIC. The Golden Grizzlies take on the Jaguars on Thursday, February 27, at 7 pm at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

Oakland is on a season-high four game win streak - having not won consecutive games since Nov. 9-10 before the streak began. The Golden Grizzlies' last four-game win streak came at the end of last season as Oakland won four straight heading into the Horizon League Tournament and picked up a fifth consecutive in round one of tournament play before falling to Northern Kentucky, 64-63.

Since sophomore guard Rashad Williams' waiver was granted, the Golden Grizzlies have been averaging 9.5 more points per game than without Williams on the floor.

For the second-straight week, senior forward Xavier Hill-Mais was named the Horizon League's Nike #HLMBB Player of the Week. Hill-Mais has notched three-straight double-doubles and five-straight 20+ point efforts. Last time out on Senior Day against Green Bay, Hill-Mais had a game-high 31 points - including a go-ahead triple late in double OT.

Sophomore forward Daniel Oladapo notched his fourth double-double of the season and second straight last time out. Oladapo has five double-digit rebounding efforts - three-consecutive heading into the weekend. When Oladapo records a double-double, Oakland is undefeated.

Oakland is the lone team in the Horizon League with three student-athletes in the top 10 of the conference for rebounds per game. Hill-Mais ranks fourth with 8.1, senior center Brad Brechting ninth at 6.5 and Oladapo 10th with 6.3 boards per game.

If the Golden Grizzlies can knock down a triple in Thursday's contest, Oakland will have made a three-pointer in 1,000-straight games. The Golden Grizzlies have the fifth-longest active streak in NCAA DI.

IUPUI won the season's first matchup in overtime, 89-85. The Jaguars top two scorers - Marcus Burk and Jaylen Minnett - combined for 14 triples and 69 points in the effort.

IUPUI is 1-9 in games decided by two possessions (six points) or less this season. Burk leads the team with 21.2 points per game heading into this weekend. Minnett is averaging 16.4 per contest. Minnett has knocked down 100 triples this season, as Burk has hit 85.

Oakland concludes the regular season on Saturday, February 29, at UIC.

Inside the Series
Overall: Oakland, 28-18
At Home: 18-4
At IUPUI: 8-11
At Neutral: 2-3
Current Streak: IUPUI, 1
Last Meeting: L, 89-85 OT (1/25/20 at O'Rena)
Series Note: Oakland has lost its last two at IUPUI

Notes

Oakland's scoring with Williams versus without is a difference of 9.5 ppg. For the first time this season, the Golden Grizzlies have scored 70 or more points in eight-straight outings.
Oakland is 67-22 in the month of February since 2009. In eight of those seasons, the Golden Grizzlies have won at least six games in February.
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 999-consecutive games, which is the fifth-longest streak in the NCAA.
IUPUI is one of 15 programs Oakland has faced off with more than 30 times. Oakland hasn't faced a Horizon League foe more than the Jaguars - 46 games. The Golden Grizzlies have played only seven programs more than 40 times in program history - Ferris State and Oakland have a 63-game history dating back to 1968.
Hill-Mais and sophomore forward Daniel Oladapo are riding a streak of double-doubles heading into this weekend. Both forwards notched double-doubles in both games last weekend against Milwaukee and Green Bay. Hill-Mais' weekend was highlighted by a season-high 31 points against the Phoenix, while Oladapo pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds against Green Bay.
Oakland's defense ranks third in the Horizon League, limiting opponents to 69.9 points per game. Hill-Mais ranks inside the conference's top-10 in six statistical categories and leads the league in field goal percentage, knocking down 52.2-percent from the floor.
Oakland's last four-game win streak came at the end of last season as the Golden Grizzlies won four straight heading into the Horizon League Tournament and picked up a fifth consecutive in round one of tournament play before falling in the semifinals to Northern Kentucky, 64-63.
The Black and Gold attacked the glass last time out vs Green Bay, outrebounding the Phoenix, 53-40. It was Oakland's first 50+ rebound game since pulling down 55 at Washington in Alaska Airlines Arena on December 19, 2015.
The Golden Grizzlies' starting five combined for all 92 points against Green Bay, with four of the five finishing in double figures. Hill-Mais led the way with 31 points and became the second Golden Grizzly to eclipse the 30-point mark in a single game this season - sophomore guard Rashad Williams has posted tallies of 37 and 34 this season. Williams finished with 19 points highlighted by five triples.
For the second-straight week, senior forward Xavier Hill-Mais was named the Horizon League's Nike #HLMBB Player of the Week. Hill-Mais has notched three-straight double-doubles and five-straight 20+ point efforts. Last time out on Senior Day against Green Bay, Hill-Mais had a game-high 31 points - including a go-ahead triple late in double OT.
Xavier Hill-Mais finished with a season-high 31 points vs Green Bay on Senior Day - marking his 25th-straight outing with double-digit points and 28th this season. It was the 23rd 20-plus point effort of his career and fifth straight. The 31 points and 13 rebounds marked his 9th double-double of the season and third in as many games. Hill-Mais has knocked down at least one triple in four-straight games. Williams has the longest streak on the team this season, which is still active, at 11.
Dan Oladapo went for double digits on the glass for the third-straight game, and notched his fourth double-double of the year with 17 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.