ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team returns to the court after its 10-day break for its final Big Ten matchup of the season with a meeting against Michigan State Monday inside the Breslin Center, with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m. ET.
 
The Golden Grizzlies (6-5, 1-1 HL) rebounded on the road against Eastern Michigan, 77-63, behind a dominant second half to get back on track before the team headed into a 10-day break.
 
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead, but an early charge from the Golden Grizzlies highlighted by back-to-back threes from Jack Gohlke put Oakland ahead. The next few points went back-and-forth, but six-straight from the Golden Grizzlies put the team ahead. It appeared the Eagles would tie things up with a 9-2 run to cut the game to three before the first half ended, but Oakland held on to its lead heading into the locker room.
 
The Golden Grizzlies came out of the locker room on fire and built off its lead to grab its first double-digit point lead with 13:00 to go. Five quick points turned the lead to 15 as the Golden Grizzlies were in control of the contest. Trey Townsend continued to dominate the floor with a ferocious slam followed by five-straight from Osei Price, including one from range, to push the Golden Grizzlies lead to 20 with 6:00 to play. Oakland made it difficult for the Eagles to attempt a comeback as the Golden Grizzlies rode its momentum and continued to pile on.
 
Oakland went up, 72-48, but the Eagles rallied behind a 14-0 run to cut its deficit to 10 with 1:45 to play. Jones put the run to a halt with a make from under the basket to put the game to rest as the Golden Grizzlies came away on top, 77-63.
 
Townsend led the way and was one of three players to have double-digit points with his 22. Townsend was lights out from the floor and made nine of his 12 attempts and nearly came away with a double-double as he grabbed nine boards. Behind Townsend was DQ Cole and Gohlke who both finished the night with 11 points.
 
The Golden Grizzlies shot at a .581 clip from the floor in the second half and drained three from range to improve its field goal percentage to 51.7% after a 44.4% in the first. The Eagles also improved on the floor at a .444 clip to put its total at .431. Off the glass, the Golden Grizzlies snagged 35 rebounds while the Eagles came away with 28.
 
As of Monday (Dec. 11), Townsend ranks seventh in the Horizon League in scoring with 15.8 points per game and fourth in the league in most points scored (174). Townsend also leads the Golden Grizzlies and ranks third in the league in rebounds per game with 7.5 and is three behind the league leader for most in the Horizon League.
 
Gohlke leads the league in three-pointers made per game (3.6) and total threes (40) and leads the nation in attempts per game from range (11.3) and ranks in the top 10 in the NCAA with makes per game.
 
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
The Golden Grizzlies seek its first win against the Spartans in its 22nd matchup which dates back to 1998 where Oakland hosted Michigan State and fell, 96-66.
 
Most games played between these two have been on the road for the Golden Grizzlies as Oakland is 0-13 when it visits East Lansing. Its last meeting was last season, as the Golden Grizzlies fell, 67-54, in its closest loss since 2017.
 
In East Lansing, Townsend and Blake Lampman were two of three players to record double-digit points and were two of five current players to see action in the game. Last year marked only the second time Oakland held the Spartans under 70 points as Michigan State went 25-of51 from the floor with 10 from range. On average, the Golden Grizzlies net 65.4 points per game and nearly took the Spartans down in overtime during the 2015-16 season in a 99-93 game.
 
The Spartans (5-5, 0-2 B1G) came up big Saturday (Dec. 16) and ended its two-game skid with a win over nationally-ranked Baylor, 88-64. A slower start to the season than the Spartans typically have, Michigan State fell in its season opener to now nationally ranked James Madison before it picked up its first win over Southern Indiana. Although the Spartans have five losses to its name, four of which came from teams who are now ranked, with a close 74-68 loss to No. 3 Arizona. The Spartans fell under .500 with two-straight conference losses before it resumed non-conference play.
 
A dominant win over No. 6 Baylor, 88-64, put the Spartans back on track to improve its record to 5-5. At Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich., Michigan State erupted for 45 points in the first half and held Baylor to just 17 off seven makes from the field. The Spartans were lights out from the floor in the opening 20 and went 17-of-27 (.629) from the field with five makes from range.
 
Tyson Walker of the Spartans led the way with a game-high 25 points and was a perfect 4-of-4 from three with three boards tacked on. Two other Spartans recorded double-digit points, as the Bears were held to just two players with 11 points.
 
Walker leads the Spartans this season with an average of 20.8 points per game off 74-of-153 from the field and ranks third in the Big Ten in scoring. The senior guard has started and appeared in all but one game this season with an average of 3.1 rebounds per game. Off the glass, Mady Sissoko, the senior out of Bafoulabe, Mali, leads the team with 56 rebounds for 5.6 boards per game. The center averages just 4.4 points per game and sees the floor and average of 17.5 minutes per game.
 
Although .500, the Spartans outscore its opposition, 73.9-64.7, and edge its opponents in field goal percentage, 46.4%-39.3%. The Spartans also win the battle off the glass with an average of 1.4 more rebounds per game and allow 34.6.
 
Tip-off from the Breslin Center is slated for 7:00 PM ET Monday, Dec. 18.
 
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