ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Oakland Golden Grizzlies are set for their Thanksgiving week multi-team event out west to compete in the Blaine Taylor Classic, hosted by the University of Montana. OU is set to face Lamar on Monday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m. ET, while taking on the host Grizzlies on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 9 p.m. ET in Dahlberg Arena in Missoula.
The Golden Grizzlies (1-5, 0-0 HL) dropped a tight game to in-state opponent, Eastern Michigan, 97-91, in Ypsilanti on Friday.
Senior Brody Robinson led the team with a career-high 22 points, hitting four triples and making six free throws. In his first game back from injury, fifth-year Michael Houge posted 17 points, converting seven of his nine field goal attempts. Fifth-year Tuburu Naivalurua added 15 points and recorded six assists, also collecting five rebounds as junior Isaac Garrett contributed 15 points and six rebounds, finishing with one block and one steal. Sophomore Nassim Mashhour tallied four steals and scored 10 points, demonstrating strong defensive play.
Oakland has a 14-15 record in holiday Multi-Team Events dating back 10 seasons to the 2015-16 basketball season. The Golden Grizzlies took event sweeps at the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic in 2015 and the Gulf Coast Showcase in 2021.
Tip-off in Missoula will be available to watch on ESPN+. The Voice of the Golden Grizzlies, Neal Ruhl, will be on the radio call on 97.1HD-3/1270am or the Audacy App online.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
The Cardinals are fresh off of a 13-point victory at Louisiana-Monroe, never trailing as they improved their 2025-26 record to 2-1. Lamar has had one player hit 20 points in each of the team's first three games, as head coach Alvin Brooks enters his fifth season in Beaumont and returns three starters. Senior Andrew Holifield is leading with 16.7 points/game as Flint native and Wayne State transfer Rob Lee Jr. is tied for dishing out 3.0 assists per game this season.
SCOUTING THE GRIZZLIES
Montana is 4-2 and averaging 86.7 points per game in 2025-26, most notably picking up an upset win over UNLV and battling with Texas A&M is a small five-point deficit. The reigning Big Sky Tournament Champions see a return of junior Money Williams, the Big Sky's 2024-25 Top Reserve who was unanimously named the 2025-26 Big Sky Preseason Player of the Year now averaging 20.5 points/game this year.
Oakland has never competed against Lamar or Montana in program history, set for a first-time meeting between the pair this week.
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.
