HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Golden Grizzlies' stifling defense held the Norse to just 21 points in the second half, and just seven in the final 9:27 of play, as Oakland took down Northern Kentucky, 68-53, tonight inside the Truist Arena.

The Golden Grizzlies (6-12, 3-4 HL) got back in the win column as it saw a trio of players record double-digits, as DQ Cole led the front with 16 points. Buru Naivalurua nearly recorded a double-double, with 15 points and nine boards, as Allen Mukeba led the team off the glass with 12 rebounds.

The Norse (9-9, 4-3 HL) were led by Sam Vinson who finished the night with 11 points with Josh Dilling right behind with 10.

Oakland wasted no time asserting themselves, jumping out to an early lead behind the aggressive play of Naivalurua, who opened the scoring with a layup in the first minute. Naivalurua dominated the glass early, pulling down multiple offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive. A three-pointer by Jack Hoth, his first points during his first start and game of the season, at 18:14 put Oakland up 5-0.

Northern Kentucky momentarily closed the gap to 5-3, but Oakland responded with a 7-0 run, highlighted by a triple and a pair of free throws from Cole. Oakland's defense disrupted the Norse, forcing turnovers and contested shots, while their offense thrived in transition. A fastbreak layup by Isaiah Jones pushed the lead to 12-3.

The Norse fought back, trimming the deficit to 15-12 behind a pair of three-pointers, however, Oakland came through, as Naivalurua drilled a three and Cole connected on another triple to extend the lead to 25-15. Key plays from Jayson Woodrich and Jaylen Jones, including a fastbreak tip-in by Jones and a clutch three-pointer from Woodrich, kept the momentum with Oakland. By halftime, the Golden Grizzlies built a 41-32 advantage.

Oakland outshot Northern Kentucky in the first half, as the Golden Grizzlies hit at a .467 clip (14-of-30), compared to the Norse's .393 mark (11-of-28). Both teams were efficient from range, as Oakland sank seven triples, one more than Northern Kentucky's six.

Northern Kentucky attempted to mount a comeback, but Oakland's defense held firm. The duo of Cole and Isaiah Jones controlled the tempo on offense, as the Norse, on the other hand, struggled to generate consistent offense, with the Golden Grizzlies contesting shots and cleaning up the boards. Naivalurua made a highlight-reel dunk at the 12:59 mark of the half as he cleaned up a Woodrich three with a one-hand jam to give Oakland momentum.

With ticks under the 10 minutes mark, the Norse made it a seven-point game, but a three from Hoth sparked a 13-0 run, taking a 20-point lead. The Norse made a three, but Oakland continued to hammer on and hold firm on defense as it only allowed seven points in the final 9:27 of play, leading the team to a 68-53 win.

The Golden Grizzlies finished the game at a .414 mark from the floor (24-of-58) as it sank nine shots from range. The team was nearly perfect from the charity stripe as it only missed on free throw (11-of-12). The Norse finished the game with seven threes, shooting at a .364 clip from the floor (20-of-55) and missed half of its free throw attempts. Off the glass, Oakland held the edge with 15 more rebounds as it finished the game with 42.

Oakland looks to spark a win streak as it returns home to play IU Indy Wednesday (Jan. 15), with tip-off set for 7:00 p.m. ET live on ESPN+. All Oakland games this season will be live streamed through audio via 97.1HD-3, The Bet1270 AM (WXYT-AM) & the Audacy App with Neal Ruhl on the call.