ROCEHSTER, Mich. – Oakland University Men's Basketball returns to Horizon League play as it plays host to Milwaukee on Sunday, January 9 as the "Voice of the Golden Grizzlies'',
Neal Ruhl, on the call on ESPN3/+ as well as TheBet 1270AM (WXYT-AM) and the Audacy App for the 4:00 p.m. tip off.
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INSIDE THE SERIES
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Overall: Oakland, 10-8
At Home: 5-3
On the Road: 5-5
Current Streak: Milwaukee, 1
Last Meeting: L, 89-87 2OT (2/20/21)
Series Note:
Milwaukee is coming off a 85-60 loss to University of Detroit Mercy on Friday that dropped their overall record to 5-10, 3-3 in the Horizon League. So far, the Panthers have compiled HL wins against Robert Morris, Green Bay, and Northern Kentucky as it currently sits 248th in KenPom rankings.
The team is led by DeAndre Gholston and Patrick Baldwin Jr. in scoring as the duo average 15.2 and 13.4 points per game, respectively, with Baldwin also averaging a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game as well.
Milwaukee Head Coach Pat Baldwin was named to his position in 2017 after four seasons as an assistant coach at Northwestern University. In the 2020-21 campaign, Baldwin led the Panthers to a Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament Semi-Final appearance against Cleveland State, the team's first semi-final appearance since his first season.
With its 108-40 rout of Ohio Christian University on Friday, the attention turns to Milwaukee as two Golden Grizzlies members come off double doubles and career highs in Trey Townsend with 26 points and 10 rebounds as well as Chris Conway with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Conway's career high in points prior to Saturday was two.
As a team, Oakland set season bests in points with 108 which is the first time since February 21, 2017 where the team has scored 100-plus. The team also set a season high of 45 field goals made on 75 attempts for a 62.7% field goal percentage. A team high in assists with 30 and steals with 17 was also set.
Jamal Cain and Jalen Moore will take the floor averaging 21.3 and 14.9 points per game, respectively. Cain is currently averaging a double double with 10.5 rebounds per game as well. Both individuals recorded their seventh and sixth double double of the season, respectively, against Youngstown State.
Moore is tied for first in the nation in assists per game with 7.9 tallying 103 total assists on the year. Moore also sits tied for 16th in total double doubles with six through 13 games.
The Golden Grizzlies sit 72nd in the NCAA NET Rankings as the only Horizon League team in the top 100.
Oakland was slated 15th in the January 3rd edition of Mid-Major Top 25 Poll as voted on by mid-major tier coaches. The Golden Grizzlies rose by one spot from 16th from the last poll.
According to kenpom.com, the Golden Grizzlies have played the 69th toughest schedule in the country based on strength of schedule rating with the 9th toughest out of conference strength of schedule rating.
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NOTES
NATIONAL TALENT
Once again, Jamal Cain sees himself in the mix of national attention with the grad student from Pontiac in more than one category.
Category - Place (Total/Average)
Double Doubles - Tied-13th (7)
Defensive Rebounds Per Game - 12th (7.38)
Offensive Rebounds Per Game - 33rd (3.08)
Rebounds Per Game - 10th (10.5)
Total Points - Tied-16th (277)
Minutes Per Game - 20th (36.0)
THE BEST IN THE NATION
Jalen Moore currently sits in a tie for first in assists per game (naturally, first in the Horizon League) with 7.9 per game and 103 total. Moore is tied with Yuri Collins of Saint Louis University.
UNDEFEATED IN HORIZON LEAGUE PLAY
With a 87-72 win over Youngstown State University last Saturday, Oakland is now 4-0 in Horizon League play, tied at the top with Cleveland State University also at 4-0. Only one other team is undefeated in HL play as University of Detroit-Mercy sits 2-0.
LAMPMAN FOR THREE
Blake Lampman has hit 26 of 63 attempts from range this season for a 41.3% shooting percentage from deep. Lampman drained a career high six three-pointers in Oakland's win over Youngstown State on ten attempts.
PRICE'S FIRST CAREER STARTS
Osei Price is coming off his first two career starts contributing 17 points in the two wins with 13 total rebounds and eight assists. On Friday, Price made his third start with five points, four rebounds, three steals, and two blocks.
A SPECIAL FRIDAY NIGHT
Chris Conway's previous career high in points was two points ahead of OU's game with Ohio Christian on Friday. The Naperville, Illinois native earned his first career double double with 22 points and ten rebounds as Trey Townsend got his second double double of the year with 26 points (a career high) and 10 rebounds as well. Emmanuel Newsome made his first start of the season Friday as well tallying eight points, five rebounds, and a steal.
HORIZON LEAGUE LEADERS
Cain is second in scoring in the Horizon League with 21.31 points per game while holding onto the number one spot in rebounding with 10.46 per game. Moore, naturally, is first in assists through 13 games played with 103 total assists, 37 more than second place. Trey Townsend is currently tied for third in blocked shots with 19 total (1.46 per game).
MID-MAJOR SUCCESS
Oakland was slated 15th in the January 3rd edition of Mid-Major Top 25 Poll as voted on by mid-major tier coaches. The Golden Grizzlies rose by one spot from 16th from the last poll.
BATTLE IN LITTLE CAESARS ARENA
Moore tallied a double-double in the team's 90-78 loss to Michigan State University with 25 points and 11 assists to his name as Cain notched his second straight contest with 20 or more points, his sixth overall of the season. The squad shot 43.9% (25-57) from the field as the team faces its first, and albeit short, losing streak of the season at two games.
CHARITY STRIPE SUCCESS
As a team, OU shoots 30th in the country in free throws going 177-230 (76.96%) as the fourth Horizon League team in the poll behind Wright State University, Purdue Fort Wayne, and Detroit Mercy.
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LAST FOUR
(vs) Ohio Christian, January 7, W 108-40
Oakland set a best in points scored in the non-conference match with 108 as the team held its opponent to under 50 points for the second time this season. Townsend and Conway secured double doubles with 26 and 22 points, respectively, while each player nabbed 10 boards a piece.
(vs) Youngstown State, January 1, W 87-72
Moore and Cain each locked double doubles in the team's fourth Horizon League win of the season, their sixth and seventh, respectively. This was the game in which Moore established himself as nation's leader in assists adding 13 to his resume. Lampman also lit up 6-10 from three point land.
(vs) Robert Morris, December 30, W 79-61
Cain reached his second-straight game with 20+ points on Thursday night as Horizon League play resumed as the grad student tallied 22 points and 14 rebounds. Moore eclipsed the double digit mark in assists again with 10 as he continues to climb the national assists leaderboard. As a team, Oakland put up 20 assists for a season-high.
(vs) Michigan State, December 21, L 90-78
Moore notched a double double in the teams loss before the holiday break to Michigan State at Little Caesars Arena with 25 points and 11 assists. Cain continues to prove himself as one of the best in the country with 20 points and six rebounds to his credit, shooting 50% from the field in the process.
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AMONG THE GREATS
Jalen Moore sits third in the nation when it comes to helping out his teammates. The junior is third in the country through 12 games tallying 90 assists in total for an average of 7.5 per game.
BATTLE IN LITTLE CAESARS ARENA
Moore tallied a double-double in the team's 90-78 loss to Michigan State University with 25 points and 11 assists to his name as Cain notched his second straight contest with 20 or more points, his sixth overall of the season. The squad shot 43.9% (25-57) from the field as the team faces its first, and albeit short, losing streak of the season at two games.
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.
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.
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 650 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.