INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Oakland (16-14, 12-7 HL) picked up its 12th conference win of the season and defeated IU Indy (7-23, 3-16 HL), 86-74, on Wednesday inside The Jungle. Oakland maintained a steady performance, scoring 43 points in both halves and dominating the paint with 60 points, never trailing at any point of the game. The visitors also capitalized on the Jaguars' turnovers, converting them into 17 points.

"The first seven minutes of this game, we played really good basketball," said head coach Greg Kampe. "We needed to get that confidence back in ourselves, playing good again right into March. Today we were really good. We guarded really well, we guarded with physicality today, we guarded with energy, we flew through the passing lanes. And the big thing is, we followed the game plan."

Senior Brody Robinson led the way with 19 points, including two three-pointers from beyond the arc, and recorded a career-high 13 assists, to land him in the program's top-10 in a single game in the Division I era. Fifth-year Tuburu Naivalurua netted 16 points, marking the second consecutive game with at least 16 total points, while also adding four rebounds and two assists. Senior Ziare Wells recorded 14 points and six steals, as junior Isaac Garrett showcased a strong defensive effort by controlling the boards with nine rebounds and registering two steals.

The game commenced with Oakland setting the pace early, capitalizing on a turnover by IU Indy's Maguire Mitchell and a subsequent steal by Wells at 19:42. Oakland maintained momentum with Robinson connecting on a shot downtown, assisted by Garrett, to open the scoring. The visitors' aggressive play in the paint was evident, with Naivalurua and fifth-year Michael Houge contributing to a strong start, pushing the lead to 15-5 by 16:35.

Oakland continued to dominate the offensive glass and capitalize on IU Indy's turnovers, extending their lead with fast-break points and effective ball distribution. By the half's end, Oakland led by 10 points, demonstrating efficiency with 30 points in the paint and forcing six turnovers from the Jaguars.

Oakland initiated the second half with a strong momentum shift, starting with Naivalurua's successful tip-in, followed by Wells' steal and fast-break dunk. This sequence extended Oakland's lead to 47-33 early in the half. The Jaguars responded with a few scoring plays, but Robinson's three-pointer at 18:36 helped maintain the visiting team's advantage.

Oakland's defense was efficient, as evidenced by Wells and Houge's contributions in fast-break points, which kept the Jaguars at bay. Oakland continued to capitalize on drawn fouts into free-throw opportunities and fast-break plays, with fifth-year Brett White II converting a three-point play to extend the lead to 55-43.

As the half progressed, Oakland sustained its pace with contributions from redshirt-freshman Warren Marshall IV – who tied his career-high with 12 points from the floor – and Garrett, both finding success in the paint. Despite the Jaguars' attempts to close the gap, Oakland's offensive execution, highlighted by Robinson's record passing, allowed Oakland to close the half leading 86-74.

With the win tonight, Oakland is set for a top-five seed in the Horizon League tournament and will have home court advantage next Wednesday, March 4 at the OU Credit Union O'rena. Before then, the Golden Grizzlies will close out the regular season on the Blacktop playing host to #MetroSeries rival Detroit Mercy on Saturday, Feb. 28, for Senior Night. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+.


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.