ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Oakland men's basketball team is back in the OU Credit Union O'rena to face NAIA Defiance College on the Blacktop, Saturday, Nov. 15 at 3 p.m. ET for their sole home game of November.
The Golden Grizzlies (0-3, 0-0 HL) dropped 45-78 in a battle with No. 1 Houston, after becoming the first program in 35 years to face consecutive No. 1's with Purdue last week.
Junior Isaac Garrett produced another 20-point game as the Golden Grizzlies dropped in the Fertitta Center on Wednesday. On top of double-digits, Garrett also led the way defensively with seven rebounds and two blocks. Sophomore Nassim Mashhour converted three 3-pointers from downtown, finishing with nine points, as fifth-year Tuburu Naivalurua added six points and collected five rebounds. Houston-native Brody Robinson made all five of his free throws and contributed three assists.
The Golden Grizzlies are coming off of a three-game stand of the No. 7 and back-to-back No. 1 teams in the country, touted as the hardest schedule in Division I Men's Basketball and to KenPom.com's strength of schedule rankings at +32.13 net rating.
Tip-off in Rochester slated for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+ with The Voice of the Golden Grizzlies, Neal Ruhl (play-by-play) and Darryl Jacobs (analyst) on the call. Ruhl and Jacobs will also be on the radio call on 97.1HD-3/1270am or the Audacy App online.
SCOUTING THE YELLOWJACKETS
The 2025-26 Defiance Yellowjackets are a new and young team, adding nine newcomers to eight returners as 14 of the 17 rostered are underclassmen. The team out of Defiance, Ohio – Golden Grizzlies head coach Greg Kampe's hometown – posted an 8-18 record and 5-15 conference record in their first season of WHAC action. Fifth-year head coach Josh Gibson has led Defiance to a 3-0 season to start, led by Christian Burton at 13.3 points/game.
The Golden Grizzlies and Yellowjackets have met nine times in the regular season, Oakland taking the W in all nine since 1986. OU last defeated Defiance in the OU Credit Union O'rena in 2023.
How to Follow Oakland Men's Basketball: For complete information on Oakland Men's Basketball follow the team on X at @OaklandMBB and head coach Greg Kampe at @KampeOU. The team is also on Instagram and Facebook.
