ROCHESTER, Mich. - Despite a late comeback, the Golden Grizzlies fell to the Eastern Michigan Eagles, 68-64, tonight inside the OU Credit Union O'rena.
 
The Golden Grizzlies (1-4, 0-0 HL) were led by Buru Naivalurua who was 7-of-9 from the floor for his 16 points, as DQ Cole recorded his second career double-double with Oakland with 12 points and 14 total rebounds.
 
The Eagles (3-2, 0-0 MAC) had four players in double-digit points as Arne Osojnik led the team with 16.

Oakland came out of the gates firing, with Jayson Woodrich scoring the first basket just :18 seconds into the game on a layup assisted by Cooper Craggs. The Golden Grizzlies' defense stifled the Eagles early, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on transition opportunities. Naivalurua's emphatic fast-break dunk at the 17:41 mark energized the team, giving Oakland a 6-2 lead.

The Golden Grizzlies dominated the paint early, with Allen David Mukeba contributing strong defensive rebounds and blocks to maintain their edge. By the 14:04 mark, Mukeba added a highlight-reel dunk, pushing the Oakland lead to 12-5. The team's ball movement shone as Nassim Mashhour and Cole orchestrated crisp passing sequences, resulting in quality looks.

Eastern Michigan, however, clawed back behind Osojnik and Yusuf Jihad, who combined for several timely three-pointers. Oakland maintained composure, with Naivalurua closing the half strong with a series of scores, including a dunk and a mid-range jumper. The Golden Grizzlies entered halftime with a narrow 36-28 lead, buoyed by their aggressive defense and dominance in the paint.

Naivalurua led at the break with a game-high 12 points, as DQ Cole led the pace for the team with five rebounds. Off the glass, the Golden Grizzlies led the Eagles with four more boards, at 16, as 26 of Oakland's 36 first half points came in the paint. The Golden Grizzlies only missed six shots from the floor, going 14-of-20 (.700) from the field with one make from range. The Eagles were 9-of-30 (.300) with four makes from deep.

Eastern Michigan came out with renewed energy after the break, quickly erasing Oakland's lead. Oakland struggled to find its rhythm offensively, but Mukeba and Naivalurua continued to battle in the paint, with Mukeba showcasing his defensive prowess and Naivalurua adding another dunk to keep the Golden Grizzlies within striking distance. However, Eastern Michigan's perimeter shooting proved to be the difference-maker as the Eagles consistently connected from beyond the arc.

With less than two minutes remaining, the Golden Grizzlies trailed by just three points after a clutch jumper by Woodrich. Despite their best efforts, including a pair of defensive stops, Oakland could not convert on their final possessions, while Eastern Michigan sealed the game at the free-throw line and won, 68-64.

The Golden Grizzlies didn't keep up with its shooting in the second half as it was 9-of-27 (.333) in the final 20 as the team finished shooting at a .489 clip (23-of-47) from the floor. The Golden Grizzlies made three from beyond the arc, as the Eagles finished shooting 23-of-60 (.383) from the floor. Off the glass, the teams matched each other with 34 rebounds as 40 of Oakland's points came in the paint.
 
The Golden Grizzlies get a slight break as the team doesn't return to action until Saturday, Nov. 30, as it visits Toledo. Tip-off from Savage Arena is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET. All Oakland games this season will be live streamed through audio via The Bet1270 AM (WXYT-AM) & the Audacy App with Neal Ruhl on the call.