ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team wrapped up non-conference play and return to Horizon League competition with a matchup against Cleveland State inside Wolstein Center, with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m. ET.
 
The Golden Grizzlies (6-7, 1-1 HL) fell to Dayton on the road, 91-67, to wrap up non-conference play on the season. In total, the Golden Grizzlies finished 5-6 in non-league play with a program win over Power-six team Xavier, along with two wins at the Cayman Islands Classic.
 
Against Dayton, Blake Lampman put the Golden Grizzlies ahead with a three, but Dayton went down the court and answered. Three pointers were the theme early on as the Flyers 12 of its first 14 points were from beyond the arc. The Golden Grizzlies hung around, but made shots from the Flyers made it difficult for Oakland to try and gain ground to take a lead.
 
A pair of three's and two jumpers for 10 points in-a-row from the Flyers put the Golden Grizzlies deficit to double-digits for the first time of the contest. Jack Gohlke put the 10-0 run to a halt with a three of his own, but the Flyers answered right back. The first half concluded with free throws from both ends as the Golden Grizzlies went into the locker room down, 46-28.
 
The Flyers scored a quick seven points but Oakland answered with a few of its own. With the Flyers still ahead, Trey Townsend had the hot hand and scored seven-straight to slowly cut into the Flyers lead as the team went on a 10-0 run to put itself down by 13. The Flyers eventually found the basket and made one from range. Townsend tallied his ninth-straight point for Oakland after he drove hard to the basket for a layup, followed by threes traded by both teams as Gohlke got in on the action.
 
The Golden Grizzlies, though, went the next 6:11 without a make from the field as the lead eventually grew to as large as 30, before a few made baskets eased the score as the Golden Grizzlies eventually fell, 91-67.
 
Townsend led the Golden Grizzlies with a game-high 21 points with 13 in the second half of play. Townsend, who went 8-of-18 from the floor, brought down three boards with one assist. Off the glass, Isaiah Jones and Gohlke led the way as Jones outpaced Gohlke by one with his eight boards.
 
The Flyers had five of its players, and four starters, record double-digit points as Javon Bennett led the team with 19 points and was 7-of-10 from the field with five from three. Matching Jones' eight boards, DaRon Holmes II led the Flyers with eight off the glass and was 4-of-7 from the floor for 10 points.
 
The Golden Grizzlies went 26-of-60 (.430) from the field and totaled 31 boards in the contest. Both teams utilized its bench as 24 of Oakland's points were off the bench and 31 from the Flyers bench. The Flyers shot well from range and made 18 shots from beyond the arc.
 
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS
The Golden Grizzlies and the Vikings face off for the 27th time in program history that spans from 1999. In its last matchup, Oakland took down Cleveland State, 92-89, inside the O'rena (Feb. 4, 2023). The last time the Golden Grizzlies visited the Vikings resulted in a loss, 80-64, as Townsend led now current Golden Grizzlies with 13 points (Dec. 1, 2022). On the road, Oakland holds a 6-5 record and is 6-4 against the Vikings in its last 10.
 
Cleveland State (8-5, 1-1 HL) most recently beat Western Michigan and ride a two-game win streak headed into Thursday's game. To date, Oakland and Cleveland State have faced two of the same opponents in Eastern Michigan and Detroit, as the Golden Grizzlies combined 2-0 while the Vikings went 1-1 with a loss against Eastern.
 
The Vikings took care of business against Western Michigan at home, 90-77. Behind a strong first half, the Vikings rode its momentum throughout to cruise to a win. Four of the Vikings starting five notched double-digits points, as Western only had three. Forward Tristan Enaruna led the game with a season-high 32 points (12-of-21 FG) while recording a double-double with 10 boards. Enaruna leads the Vikings with 18.7 points per game and also leads the team with 6.7 rebounds per game.
 
Cleveland State outscores its opposition, 76.2-69-0, as its shoots at a .436 clip from the floor with an average of 7.0 threes made per game. The Vikings hold its opponents to a clip of .373 from the floor and 6.5 makes from range. The Vikings also win the battle on the boards with 36.6 rebounds per game for an average of 1.6 more than its opponents.
 
Tip-off from the Wolstein Center is slated for 7:00 PM ET Thursday, Dec. 28.
 
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