ROCHESTER, Mich. — The Oakland Golden Grizzlies (16-16, 12-8 HL) season ended as they fell to Northern Kentucky (19-13, 10-10 HL) 85-84 in a tightly contested #HLMBB Tournament first-round game at OU Credit Union O'rena on Wednesday evening. The Golden Grizzlies led by seven at one point with seven lead changes throughout the game, highlighted by their 13-for-34 shooting from beyond the arc. The Norse secured the victory from drawn fouls and heading to the line, converting 18 of 30 free throw attempts, ultimately outscoring the home team by one.

"It's always the worst time of the year when you lose your last game. For me, the greatest day is senior day and the worst day is always when you lose your last game," said head coach Greg Kampe. "We're not going to have the same team we've had again. We've been together since June, we fought through a lot of stuff this year, a lot of adversity. A lot of things went wrong and we kept battling. I thought the last four-five minutes of this game showed everything about their character, about who they are as people. It just didn't go our way."

Senior Brody Robinson scored a career-high 36 points, including 10 three-pointers -- most since Jack Gohlke's infamous game in 2024 against Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament -- and added seven rebounds for a strong defensive effort by the 5-10 guard. Junior Isaac Garrett contributed 14 points and collected six rebounds as fifth-year Tuburu Naivalurua posted 12 points and recorded eight rebounds, along with four assists in the paint. Fifth-year Michael Houge added eight points, six rebounds, and three assists.

The game began with Oakland taking an early lead with Naivalurua's dunk, followed by Garrett's layup to start a quick 4–0 run. The Golden Grizzlies maintained their momentum with consistent scoring in the paint, highlighted by Robinson's first three-pointer at 15:14, keeping a competitive edge.

Despite Oakland's strong start, Northern Kentucky responded and managed to knot the score multiple times. The visitors gained control as the half progressed, with a series of successful three-pointers, including one by Donovan Oday in the final seconds. Oakland's defense held strong but allowed a late tip-in by the Norse, closing the half with a six-point advantage for the visitors.

The second half saw Oakland rally with a series of points. Early on, Houge made an impactful jumper in the paint, setting the tone for the home team. Robinson contributed significantly with multiple successful shots from beyond, narrowing the gap against Northern Kentucky. Oakland's defensive efforts were evident with Naivalurua's block and multiple boards off the glass. Despite the intensity, the Norse managed to maintain a lead through consistent scoring, including key free throws.

As the half progressed, Oakland's offense continued to fight back. Garrett and fifth-year Brett White II each added pivotal three-pointers, keeping the margin within reach. Robinson further narrowed the score with a crucial three-pointer buzzer beater in the final second, yet having been down by four, Northern Kentucky held its lead with a one-point margin.


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.