The Oakland men's basketball program will open Horizon League play against UIC on Thursday, Dec. 2, inside the Credit Union 1 Arena. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET, and ESPN+ will televise the conference matchup. "Voice of the Golden Grizzlies" Neal Ruhl will provide radio coverage on The Bet 1270AM (WXYT-AM) and the Audacy app.

Watch | Listen | Live Stats

INSIDE THE SERIES

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• Overall: Oakland leads 16-5
• At Home: 6-2
• At UIC: 9-2
• At Neutral: 1-1
• Current Streak: UIC, 2
• Last Meeting: L, 90-73 (12/20/20)
• Series Note: Oakland won its first nine games at UIC before losing both road matchups last season

Oakland leads UIC in the all-time series, 16-5. The Golden Grizzlies won nine consecutive road games against the Flames, spanning from 1973 to 2020. In its 58-57 victory over UIC during the 2016-17 season, OU made history with a Horizon League record 18 blocks. Xavier Hill-Mais, Isaiah Brock, Jalen Hayes, and Brad Brechting finished with two or more blocks. 

OU is 6-2 all-time in Horizon League openers since joining the conference in 2013. The Golden Grizzlies are 2-2 when commencing league play on the road, including a 74-72 loss to the Flames last season at the start of HL action. Jalen Moore poured in a team-leading 25 points in the defeat, adding six rebounds and five assists.

With a 5-2 record, Oakland is off to its best start in six seasons. The Golden Grizzlies opened the 2016-17 campaign 9-1 overall and finished with a 26-9 record. The team defeated Clemson on the road in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) before falling to Richmond in the second round. 

The Golden Grizzlies took the top spot in the Division I RPI rankings on Friday, Nov. 26. To date, Oakland remains first out of 358 programs. The ranking system is based upon a team's wins, losses, and strength of schedule. 

Oakland checked in at No. 11 in the latest Mid-Major Top 25. The Golden Grizzlies are the lone Horizon League program ranked in the poll. 

According to kenpom.com, the Golden Grizzlies have played the 23rd-toughest schedule in the country based on strength of schedule rating.

NOTES

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FUN IN THE SUN
Oakland secured the Gulf Coast Showcase title with wins over Vermont, Rice, and Delaware. All three of OU's victories were decided by eight points or less. The tournament took place at Hertz Arena in Estero, Fla. and featured eight mid-major teams. The winner of the MTE has advanced to postseason play in six of its eight years of existence.

UPSET IN STILLWATER
The Golden Grizzlies earned a 56-55 victory at Oklahoma State in their second game of the season. Moore scored the final seven points for OU in the win. The upset was Oakland's 12th career win over a Power 5 program.

THE ONE AND ONLY
Graduate senior Jamal Cain is the only Division I player in the country averaging more than 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game. Through seven games, the Pontiac, Mich., native leads the Golden Grizzlies with 22.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per contest.

NATIONAL TALENT
To date, Cain possesses top-10 national marks in seven different categories. The graduate senior has finished with 14-plus points, seven-plus rebounds, and two-plus steals in every game. He posted a career-high 31 points against No. 14 Alabama and grabbed a career-best 17 rebounds in Oakland's home-opening win versus Toledo.  

National Rank - Category - Value
2nd - FG made - 63
4th - Total points - 158
5th - Double-doubles - 4
6th - Points per game - 22.6
6th - Total rebounds - 78
8th - Rebounds per game - 11.1
9th - Defense rebounds per game - 8.43

MR. ENDURANCE
On the season, second-year freshman Trey Townsend leads the nation in minutes per game (39:08). Townsend has played the full 40 minutes in four out of Oakland's seven games, and he was the lone Division I player to start the season by playing every minute in three-straight contests. The streak ended against Alabama, as he was substituted out with 3:24 to go in the second half.

CAREER NIGHT FOR TREY
Townsend scored a career-high 25 points on an efficient 12-of-18 shooting and added six rebounds in Oakland's 76-73 win over Rice in the Gulf Coast Showcase semifinals. The Oxford, Mich., native ranks second on the team in points per game (12.9), rebounds per game (6.4), and field goal percentage (.513). 

TOP PLAYMAKER
Moore is averaging a team-leading 6.6 assists per game, good for 10th in the country. He also sits sixth nationally with 46 total assists. The junior has totaled two double-doubles on the season, most recently against Rice with 13 points and 11 assists.

GOOD TO BE HOME
Oakland rolled past Toledo, 80-59, in its home opener at the Athletics Center O'rena. OU outscored Toledo 49-27 in the second half, which snapped a four-game losing skid to the Rockets. Cain exploded for 29 points, 17 rebounds, three steals, and two blocks, while sophomore guard Blake Lampman had a career night, scoring 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting from outside the arc. Moore had a double-double with 17 points and 11 assists. 

GETTING STOPS
OU has limited four opposing teams to 61 points or less. The Golden Grizzly defense held West Virginia to 60 points, the team's lowest scoring output in 33 games, dating back to the 2019-20 season. Oklahoma State put up a mere 55 points on Oakland, its least amount of points in a 38-game span, also going back to the 2019-20 campaign. Toledo's 59 points were its lowest scoring output since last year's season opener against Bradley, while Vermont's 61 points were well below its average of 73.0 points per game last season. 

STIFLING DEFENSE
Teams are shooting 27-percent from 3-point range against the Golden Grizzly defense, the 46th-lowest mark nationally. No Oakland opponent has shot better than 32% from deep through seven games.

CONTROLLING THE BOARDS
Oakland has won or tied the rebound battle in four out of its seven games this season, including two against Big 12 programs. OU pulled down a season-high 48 boards at West Virginia, limiting the Mountaineers to just 33 rebounds. A season ago, the Golden Grizzlies were outrebounded in all eight games against non-conference opponents. 

CRASHING THE GLASS
The Golden Grizzlies lead the Horizon League in total rebounds (250) and rank fourth in offensive rebounds per game (10.14). Oakland had 20 offensive rebounds against the Mountaineers, the seventh-highest mark out of 294 Division I teams that played on opening day/night. 

HEATING UP
Lampman matched a career-high in points (18) and 3-point makes (5) against Toledo. He previously set career-highs in both categories as a freshman against the Rockets. On the season, Lampman is shooting 39-percent (11-of-28) from outside the arc.  

PROVING HIS WORTH
A true freshman in Osei Price has played a bench-leading 21.4 minutes per game. In his collegiate debut at West Virginia, he posted four points on 2-of-3 shooting and added a bench-leading five rebounds. Three of his five boards came on the offensive end, which tied for the second-most on the team. Price contributed with five assists, four rebounds, and three points versus Toledo at home. 

GET YOUR TICKETS
Season tickets can be purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office by calling (248) 370-4000 or emailing outickets@oakland.edu. Single-game tickets and mini-plans are also available for the 2021-22 basketball season. Click here for more information.

NEW HOME FOR OAKLAND BASKETBALL
Oakland recently announced a partnership with Audacy that made 97.1 The Ticket HD3 and The Bet 1270AM (WXYT-AM) the official radio providers for the department. With this new partnership, 97.1 The Ticket HD3 and The Bet 1270AM (WXTY-AM) will provide coverage for all Oakland men's basketball games as well as the Greg Kampe Radio Show.

BACK FOR ANOTHER RUN
Kampe enters his 38th season at the helm of the Oakland men's basketball program. He is the third-longest tenured active coach in Division I, only behind Jim Boeheim (Syracuse, 45 seasons) and Mike Krzyzewski (Duke, 41 seasons). Kampe's 649 career wins rank 12th among active Division I coaches.

PUTTING OAKLAND ON THE MAP
Kampe joined Oakland in 1984 after six seasons as an assistant coach at Toledo (1978-1984). Formerly known as the Pioneers, OU had only six winning seasons in 16 years of competition before his arrival.