ROCHESTER, Mich. - The men's basketball team looks to build off its pair of wins last week with a crucial league game at Purdue Fort Wayne, followed by senior day against Cleveland State at home.

Sitting one game behind the Mastodons for the fifth spot in the Horizon League standings, the Golden Grizzlies open its weekend of play on the road Friday (Feb. 21) against Purdue Fort Wayne at 7:00 p.m. ET. It then treks back home to host senior day against Cleveland State in its final regular season home game Sunday (Feb. 23) at 3:00 p.m. ET.

The Golden Grizzlies (12-15, 9-7 HL) took care of business this past week and came away with a road and a home win, bouncing back from a two-game skid. In a 82-67 road win over IU Indy Feb. 12, Nassim Mashhour led Oakland with a career-high 18 points, including five three-pointers, while Buru Naivalurua recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. After an early back-and-forth, Oakland surged ahead in the first half, thanks to Mashhour's three consecutive threes, building a double-digit lead. The Golden Grizzlies led 42-34 at halftime, shooting .538 from the field and holding a slight rebounding edge.

Oakland maintained control in the second half, weathering a few Jaguars' runs before pulling away with timely three-pointers and key defensive stops. The Golden Grizzlies finished shooting .547 from the field, including 12 made threes, and outrebounded the Jaguars 38-35.

Oakland then took Detroit Mercy to overtime and came out on top, 93-83, Sunday, Feb. 16. The win marked head coach Greg Kampe's 131st Horizon League victory, tying the league record for most wins, as Oakland had five players in double figures, with Allen Mukeba posting a double-double, and Mashhour besting his career-high with 24.

The game was tightly contested throughout. After a back-and-forth regulation, Detroit Mercy led 75-73 with under two minutes left, but Mashhour and Cole stepped up in critical moments. Cole's game-tying three-pointer with four seconds left sent the game into overtime.

In extra time, Oakland's defense locked down while Isaiah Jones and Mashhour powered a decisive 8-0 run, sealing the victory. Oakland's free-throw shooting was key, converting 39-of-52 attempts to tie a program record for makes and rank second for attempts in team history.

As a team, the Golden Grizzlies tally 68.4 points per game, off a .426 clip from the floor, with 7.4 threes per game. Mukeba and Naivalurua tie for the team lead with 13.6 points per game, as Naivalurua leads off the glass with 7.6 boards per game.

DATE: Feb. 21
OPPONENT: Purdue Fort Wayne
LOCATION: Gates Sports Center - Fort Wayne, Ind.
TIME: 7:00 p.m. ET
LIVE STATS
LIVE STREAM: ESPN+
LIVE AUDIO
GAME NOTES

The Golden Grizzlies took care of business against Purdue Fort Wayne (18-10, 11-6 HL) inside the OU Credit Union O'rena (Jan. 22), 76-72, for the tail-end of a four-game win streak. Oakland was led by Mukeba's double-double (22 points, 11 rebounds) and Naivalurua's 22 points and eight rebounds.

The game was tightly contested, with seven lead changes in the second half. Oakland tied the game 30-30 at halftime, despite being outperformed in three-point shooting (.700 to .273). The Golden Grizzlies gained momentum in the second half, building their largest lead at 49-41. Purdue Fort Wayne briefly reclaimed the lead late, but clutch plays by Mukeba and Naivalurua secured the victory for Oakland. 

On the road, the Golden Grizzlies fare well as its 8-4 all-time against the Mastodons. In its last 10 road games, the Golden Grizzlies are 8-2 as the team took care of business last year on the road, 71-63.

Purdue Fort Wayne is led by Jalen Jackson who averages 19.4 points per game, shooting at a .499 clip from the floor. Off the glass, Eric Mulder leads the team with 6.9 rebounds per game while averaging 9.3 points per game.

As a team, the Mastodons score 82.3 points per game off a .475 clip from the floor with 10.4 threes per game. It allows 75.1 points per game off .465 shooting from the field and allow 8.0 threes per game. Off the glass, the Mastodons get outrebounded, on average, 36.5-30.2.
Tip-off from Gates Sports Center is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET live on ESPN+.

DATE: Feb. 23
OPPONENT: Cleveland State
LOCATION: OU Credit Union O'rena
TIME: 3:00 p.m. ET
LIVE STATS
LIVE STREAM: ESPN+
LIVE AUDIO
TICKETS
GAME NOTES

The Golden Grizzlies last played the Vikings (18-9, 12-4 HL) over two months ago (Dec. 19) and fell, 92-75, as Cole's 22 points and Mukeba's double-double (10 points, 12 rebounds) led the team.

Oakland led early, thanks to Malcolm Christie's 14 first-half points off the bench, but Cleveland State closed the half on a 17-5 run to lead 44-35 at the break. The Vikings extended their advantage with a 14-3 run to start the second half. Despite shooting .500 in the second half and a strong rebounding effort (36 boards), turnovers and Cleveland State's depth proved decisive.

The Golden Grizzlies look to build off its 9-5 home record against the Vikings as its last loss at home came in 2021. The team is 7-3 in its last 10 games and won, 83-71, last year in its sole home matchup.

The Vikings are led by Tevin Smith who averages 14.1 points per game off .442 shooting from the field. Off the glass, Dylan Arnett leads the team with 7.5 rebounds per game to go along with his 11.4 points per game.

The Vikings outscore its opponents, 73.3-65.3, as Cleveland State shoots at a .450 clip from the floor and allow a mark of .423. The team makes 6.4 threes per game, shooting at a .327 clip, and allow 7.0 threes off .333 shooting from range. Off the glass, the team narrowly holds a lead with 34.6 rebounds per game compared to its opponents 33.0.

Tip-off from the OU Credit Union O'rena is slated for 3:00 p.m. ET live on ESPN+.

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