MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Jamal Cain grabbed 29 points and the win for Oakland University Men's Basketball as it went into the UPMC Events Center at Robert Morris University and walked out with a 71-68 win, halting a three-game skid on Friday night.

Trey Townsend's tip-in after Micah Parrish's layup gave Oakland the lead to start the game for the first time in three contests. A Jalen Moore dish underneath to Cain continued early shooting success as Cain and Parrish hit back-to-back threes in consecutive possessions. 
 

𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝙪𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜@ImmanuelMicah #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/G2C0iAwZ5U

— Oakland Basketball (@OaklandMBB) February 12, 2022

Moore's behind-the-back pass to Cain for his second triple of the night fueled Oakland out of the media timeout as the grad senior posted 10 points early on with the help of Moore's three assists with just under 13:30 to go.

With Oakland up 25-19 with under nine minutes to go in the half, the Golden Grizzlies saw that lead evaporate a few short minutes later as the Colonials sank two free throws to give its first lead of the game. 

Townsends floater broke the scoring drought, tying things back up at 27 a piece with under six minutes left as both teams exchanged turnovers in the ensuing possessions. Parrish's stop and breath shot from deep gave Oakland the lead back as both teams went into the media timeout at 2:33 with OU up 34-33. 

Moore's connection to Cain put Oakland back up by three as halftime loomed. RMU called a timeout after the missed Golden Grizzlies shot with OU up by six at 39-33 before the Colonials made a last-minute basket to get back within four at 39-35 going into halftime.

Cain already tallied 17 points behind Moore's 8 assists as Parrish also reached double figures with 10 points through the first frame. Oakland was led by Townsend with six boards to his eight points. 

As a team, OU and RMU were shooting 50% from the floor (Oakland 15-30) while the Golden Grizzlies outshot the Colonials from deep at 55.6% (5-9). Oakland forced 7 turnovers and capitalized with nine points off those turnovers. 

Moore connected with Cain and Townsend for back-to-back dunking possessions to start the half as OU grew its lead up to seven points before a basket by RMU forced the under 16 media timeout with the game at 47-42. 
 

That's how you start the half. 😤@jamalcain24 #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/si6z1DzUe8

— Oakland Basketball (@OaklandMBB) February 12, 2022

Both teams continued to exchange possession after possession with baskets as the two teams battled at the midpoint of the set. Cain's fancy footwork to fly by three white jerseys put Oakland back up by five at 58-53 with 10 minutes and change approaching. 

Cain's triple, his 27th point of the night, put Oakland back up by three before RMU was able to sink a tough basket to pull the Golden Grizzlies back within two at 62-60 with 5:24 remaining. 

Moore hit one of his two free throws with just under three minutes remaining to give Oakland a five-point buffer as Oakland stretched out to a 6-2 run behind Parrish and Townsend as RMU was sent to the free throw line twice making all four attempts. 

One of those attempts came on the heels of a tense three-point lead for Oakland. All the Colonials had to do was shoot from deep to tie the game but the Golden Grizzlies picked up a smart foul that sent the home player to the line to shoot two instead. 

Cain made his two free throws while staring at the navy and red student section to put Oakland back up by three as the team's teeth began to grit. Off the inbound pass, Robert Morris was unable to secure a clean look as the full-court heave went just wide for the OU win.

The 71-68 victory snapped a three-game losing skid as Cain finished with 29 points and 2 rebounds while Parrish led the team in rebounds with nine to go along with his 15 points. Townsend was 9-13 from the field for 18 points contributing to the team's 48.3% (29-60) FG percentage.

Moore reached 10 assists to lead the team, this is the junior's first double-digit assist mark since January 20. This is Cain's second-straight 20-plus point performance, his 12th overall this season.

Oakland grabbed 22 points off turnovers to RMU's four as the Golden Grizzlies forced 10 turnovers from the Colonials. 

The Golden Grizzlies will be home for the next five starting with University of Detroit Mercy in the Athletics Center O'rena for a 1:00 p.m. tip. 
 

That's the last road trip. 🚐

Back home for the next five. #DefendTheDen pic.twitter.com/l6offpkeqU

— Oakland Basketball (@OaklandMBB) February 12, 2022