HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Kentucky - Oakland University men's basketball fell short at BB&T Arena on Thursday night, as a late turnover sealed the 73-70 decision for the Norse. Sophomore guard Rashad Williams finished with a game-high 34 points. 

Williams' 34-point effort marked the first time in his career with back-to-back 30-point outings. The Detroit native hit a career-best eight triples, finishing 8-of-15 from deep. In the past two games, Williams is 15-of-31 from three and averaging 35.5 points per game. 

Senior forward Xavier Hill-Mais notched his sixth double-double of the season - going for 12 points and a game-high 11 boards. Senior Brad Brechting rounded out the Golden Grizzlies' double-digit scorers with 10 - his sixth straight double-figure night. 

For just the third time this season, Oakland (8-16, 3-9 HL) shot over 40-percent from three. The Golden Grizzlies were 25-of-52 from the field, while holding the Norse (17-7, 9-3 HL) to under 40-percent from the floor and just 26-percent from range. 

Dantez Walton and Trevon Faulkner paced Northern Kentucky with 23 and 21 points, respectively. Walton and Adrian Nelson finished with 11 rebounds apiece. 

Ball security was a major factor, as NKU limited its giveaways to four as the Golden Grizzlies committed 13 turnovers. The Norse also took control of the glass, hauling down 23 offensive boards that led to 21 second chance points. 

Oakland had an opportunity to retake the lead as the clock approached zeros, but a turnover under the basket sealed the Golden Grizzlies fate. 

With Williams at 34 points off of eight triples, it was Hill-Mais that made space in the paint for a crucial bucket with 39.8 to play, slicing the deficit to 71-70.  

Midway through the second half, Williams turned it up, chipping in seven points out of the first media of the second stanza. 

The Golden Grizzlies came out of halftime on a 6-1 run, but NKU responded with a triple heading into the under-16 media - leaving the Oakland edge at just one, 38-37.

After Oakland missed the front end of a one-and-one, the Norse raced down the floor for the go-ahead bucket heading into the break, 33-32. 

Facing a nine point deficit, it was freshman guard Madison Monroe that came off the bench with a spark. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native hauled in three boards and notched four points in three minutes as part of a 9-0 Golden Grizzly run to knot things up at 26 all with 3:02 to play in the half. Monroe finished with eight points and a board last time out against NKU on January 5. 

Out of the first media, NKU went on a 14-2 run, highlighted by three triples. The Norse knocked down 5-of-9 in the first 10 minutes of play. 

Oakland's defense once again started hot, holding the Norse scoreless through the first media. Northern Kentucky didn't score until 4:19 into the game, giving the Golden Grizzlies a chance to build a 7-0 lead. 

Oakland wraps up the weekend road trip with Wright State on Saturday, February 8, in Dayton. Tipoff from the Nutter Center is set for 7 pm. 

Notes

• For the third-straight game, Rashad Williams, Tray Maddox Jr., Blake Lampman, Brad Brechting and Xavier Hill-Mais got the starting nod. The combo has combined for 84-percent of Oakland's scoring in the two matchups heading into tonight. Against the Norse, they combined for 80 percent of Oakland's scoring. 
• The three-point streak was extended to 994 by Rashad Williams one minute into the contest. 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 994-consecutive games, which is the fifth-longest streak in the NCAA.
• Blake Lampman's three-point streak ended at eight-straight games. Lampman has made at least three triples 10 times this season. Tray Maddox Jr. had the longest three-point streak of the team this season, putting together 10-consecutive efforts with a triple.
• Rashad Williams - playing in just his fifth game as a Golden Grizzly - has knocked down multiple three-pointers in every outing - setting a career high in straight outings, first with seven against Detroit on Jan. 31 and eight tonight. The Detroit native ranks second all-time in Cleveland State single-season history with 91 three-pointers a year ago. 
• Xavier Hill-Mais finished with 12 points - marking his 20th-straight outing with double-digit points and 23rd this season.
• Brad Brechting's 10 points marked six-straight outings for the Cedar Springs native with double digits. Brechting tallied a season-high 26 points at Green Bay on Jan. 16. Brechting has put together consecutive double-digit efforts three times this season - this is the first stretch of six-straight games this year. He tallied 10 or more points in 12-straight games a season ago - a streak that started on Jan. 24, 2019, against IUPUI. 
• Oakland has had at least three scorers in double figures in 12-straight outings. The Golden Grizzlies have had five double-digit scorers three times this year.The last time the Golden Grizzlies had just one double-digit scorer was against No. 16/15 Michigan State on Dec. 14.
• Oakland is 63-21 in the month of February since 2009. In eight of those seasons, the Golden Grizzlies have won at least six games in February.
• For the second-straight game, Oakland has held its opponent scoreless through the first media timeout. Northern Kentucky didn't score until 4:19 into the game, giving the Golden Grizzlies a chance to build a 7-0 lead. 
• Williams' 34 points marked the first time in his career scoring 30 or more points in back-to-back outings.