ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Golden Grizzlies men’s basketball team caps off 2024 with a road game against Arkansas tomorrow (Dec. 30), followed by ringing in the new year at OU Credit Union O’rena with two home games on Thursday (Jan. 2). ) and Saturday (January 4th).

Oakland travels to Fayetteville, Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks tomorrow (December 30). Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live nationally on ESPN2. Oakland then returns home for league play, hosting Milwaukee on Thursday (January 2) at 7:00 p.m. ET, followed by a Saturday (January 4) matinee against Robert Morris set for 3:00 p.m ET Both games are scheduled to be live on ESPN+.

The Golden Grizzlies (4-9, 1-2 HL) finished fourth in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic after losing 73-70 in overtime to host Hawai’i in the third-place game. It was a strong defensive battle on both sides before the Rainbow Warriors opened the scoring with an 11-0 run before Oakland put an end to it and took a 32-25 lead into halftime. Oakland came back and took an eight-point lead in the second half, but the Rainbow Warriors fought back and tied the game late.

Both teams had one final possession but were unable to make a save, sending the game into overtime tied 64-64. In overtime, Hawai’i opened the scoring with a three-pointer, but Oakland got its next three points from the charity stripe and tied the score with 2:13 left. The Rainbow Warriors scored their second three-pointer in overtime, but Malcolm Christie combined it with a three-pointer of his own to tie the game at 1:36. However, Hawai’i hit a layup with 46 seconds left, followed by a free throw, as Oakland’s contested three-pointer at the buzzer failed to make it 73-70 in overtime.

The Golden Grizzlies have four players averaging double-digit points Allen Mukeba leads the team with 13.1 per game. Buru Naivaluurawho averages 11.3 points per game, leads the team with 7.8 rebounds per game. From beyond the arc, Christie, who averages 11.2 points per game, hit 37 from beyond the arc at a .339 clip.

Oakland scores 64.8 points per game compared to its opponent’s 71.2 points as the team shoots .409 from the floor with 7.2 threes per game. Without the glass, Oakland averages 34.5 rebounds per game, 1.6 fewer than its opponents (36.1).

DATE: December 30th
OPPONENT: Arkansas
LOCATION: Bud Walton Arena – Fayetteville, Arkansas.
TIME: 8:00 p.m. ET
LIVE STATISTICS
LIVE STREAM: ESPN2
LIVE AUDIO

The Razorbacks (10-2, 0-0 SEC) enter tomorrow’s contest with a ranked win under their belt, defeating No. 14 Michigan by two, and a ranked loss after losing a game to No. 8 Baylor (72) had lost -67. The Razorbacks also lost to Illinois, the teams’ only common opponent this season, as Arkansas lost by 13 and Oakland lost by 12. Bench boss John Calipari, who has the most wins of any active head coach in Division I basketball, returns to face the Golden Grizzlies after Oakland defeated the previously coached Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament last season.

This will be the third time the teams will face each other as Oakland looks for its first win over the Razorbacks. Both games have previously taken place on the road, as the Golden Grizzlies traveled to Fayetteville in both the 2006-07 and 2011-12 seasons. The closest game came in 2011 when Oakland lost 91-68, while Arkansas also scored 91 points in their first meeting.

The Razorbacks are led by Adou Thiero, who averages 17.6 points per game, shoots .610 from the floor and leads the team with 5.7 rebounds per game. With a trio of players in double figures, Boogie Fland is next at 15.3 points per game and leads the team with 22 three-pointers made.

The Razorbacks are scoring 81.8 points per game and allowing just 65.8 per game as the team is shooting .508 from the floor. With a rebound margin of +5.2, the Razorbacks grab 36.5 rebounds per game and also provide 16.5 assists per game.

Kickoff from Bud Walton Arena is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET and will be nationally televised on ESPN2.

DATE: January 2nd
OPPONENT: Milwaukee
LOCATION: OU Credit Union O’rena – Rochester, Michigan.
TIME: 7:00 p.m. ET
LIVE STATISTICS
LIVE STREAM: ESPN+
LIVE AUDIO
TICKETS

The Panthers (9-4, 2-0 HL) enter the week having won both league games as they defeated Cleveland State 79-67, the only common opponent the two teams have played so far this season . The Panthers play the IU Indy Jaguars today (December 29) before heading to Michigan to face Oakland.

The Golden Grizzlies are 15-10 all-time over the Panthers as Oakland has lost just three games on its home court. The Golden Grizzlies won the home and away season last season, winning the Horizon League Championship game in Indianapolis, Indiana. DQ Cole and Naivaluua both saw action in the contest as Cole led the pair with four points.

The Panthers’ entire starting lineup is in double figures in points per game, with Themus Fulks leading the team with 14.5 points per game and shooting .534 from the floor. Jamichael Stillwell leads the team with 11.9 rebounds per game while also averaging 13.7 points per game.

The Panthers are averaging 81.8 points per game and allowing 71.8 points as the team shoots .480 from the field. With 6.5 three-pointers per game, the team is allowing 7.7 three-pointers per game as their opponents are shooting better from distance at a mark of .348 compared to .310. Off the glass, Milwaukee has 42.6 rebounds per game, 12.9 more than its opponents, as the team also averages 14.2 assists per game.

OU Credit Union O’rena tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

DATE: January 4th
OPPONENT: Robert Morris
LOCATION: OU Credit Union O’rena – Rochester, Michigan.
TIME: 3:00 p.m. ET
LIVE STATISTICS
LIVE STREAM: ESPN+
LIVE AUDIO
TICKETS

The Colonials (8-5, 0-2 HL) face Northern Kentucky at home today (Dec. 29), then play Detroit Mercy before facing the Golden Grizzlies. Like Oakland, Robert Morris fell to Youngstown State 72-58 in the Horizon League’s opening game and then lost to Purdue Fort Wayne 82-77.

Oakland has only lost two games to Robert Morris and is undefeated on its home court. The team dropped a total of 11 points in the two games they lost, while Oakland won by 15 points at the Blacktop last season. Cole, Naivaluua and Isaiah Jones saw action in the game as Cole scored 11 points and missed just one shot from the floor. Oakland capped the season series last year with a 64-43 victory in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.

The Colonials have four players averaging double-digit points, with Alvaro Folgueiras averaging 12.8 points per game and averaging a double-double with a team-leading 10.8 rebounds per game. Ryan Prather Jr. and DJ Smith lead the team with 20 three-pointers each.

The Colonials enter the week averaging 72.1 points per game and are allowing 69.8 points per game as the team shoots .419 from the field. The team is making 6.5 three-pointers per game for a .305 mark and outscoring opponents 38.1-32.0. The Colonials turn the ball over 14.3 times per game and dish out 13.0 assists per game.

OU Credit Union O’rena tipoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

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