GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Milwaukee (12-14, 7-7 HL) | Friday, Feb. 21 – 8 PM | Athletics Center O’Rena | Rochester, Michigan
COVERAGE BROADCAST
ESPN+/TV20 | TALENT: Neal Ruhl (PxP) and Dan Waterstradt (Analyst) | RADIO: WDFN-AM (1130), iHeart Radio app | TALENT: Neal Ruhl (PxP) and Dan Waterstradt (Analyst)
ROCHESTER, Michigan – Oakland University men’s basketball hosts Milwaukee on Friday, February 21, for ALS Awareness Night. Tipoff is set for 8 pm.
The Golden Grizzlies enter the weekend on their first two-game win streak since November 9-10. Additionally, Oakland built a double-digit lead at home in back-to-back outings for the first time since December 21 and December 28 against Fairfield and Detroit Mercy.
Senior forward Xavier Hill-Mais was named the Nike #HLMBB Co-Player of the Week after averaging 21 points per game last week. Hill-Mais recorded a pair of 20-plus point efforts as the Golden Grizzlies knocked off Cleveland State and Youngstown State. He has scored 20 or more points in three-straight games and five of the last eight.
In the season’s first matchup with the Panthers, Oakland fell 73-68 at the UMW Panther Arena. Hill-Mais led a trio of Golden Grizzlies in double figures with 20 points. Te’Jon Lucas paced Milwaukee with 20.
The three-point streak was extended to 997 by Tray Maddox Jr. early in the first half against YSU. The last time Oakland did not convert a shot from behind the arc was on Jan. 30, 1988 vs. Wayne State University. The Golden Grizzlies have hit a three-ball in 997-consecutive games, which is the fifth-longest streak in the NCAA.
Oakland hit 70 or more points for the sixth-straight game last time out. The Golden Grizzlies hadn’t scored at least 70 in consecutive efforts since the streak began on Jan. 25 against IUPUI.
Oakland is 65-22 in the month of February since 2009. In eight of those seasons, the Golden Grizzlies have won at least six games in February.
Milwaukee enters the week sixth in the Horizon League standings at 7-7. Last time out, the Panthers fell to Green Bay, 94-90. The Panthers have dropped four of their last six. Lucas leads the team with 15.7 points per game.
The Black and Gold welcome Green Bay on Sunday at 3 p.m. for senior day – celebrating the careers of seniors Brad Brechting and Xavier Hill-Mais.
Inside the Series
Overall: Milwaukee, 12-8
At Home: 4-5
At MKE: 4-7
At Neutral: 0-0
Current Streak: Milwaukee, 1
Last Meeting: L, 73-68 (1/18/20 at UMW Panther Arena)
Notes
- Senior forward Xavier Hill-Mais was named the Nike #HLMBB Co-Player of the Week after averaging 21 points per game last week. Hill-Mais recorded a pair of 20-plus point efforts as the Golden Grizzlies knocked off Cleveland State and Youngstown State. He has scored 20 or more points in three-straight games and five of the last eight.
- Xavier Hill-Mais is one of 10 Horizon League seniors named to the Dos Equis 3X3U National Championship Midseason Watch List, announced on Tuesday, February 4. The 2020 event is scheduled for April 3-5 at Atlanta’s Atlantic Station.
- Rashad Williams has knocked down multiple three-pointers in every outing – setting a career high first with seven against Detroit on Jan. 31 and eight at NKU on Feb. 6. The Detroit native ranks second all-time in Cleveland State single-season history with 91 three-pointers a year ago. Williams has 39 in his nine games this season. Thirty-nine of Williams’ 55 made field goals this season have come from behind the arc.
- The three-point streak was extended to 997 by Tray Maddox Jr. early in the first half. The last time Oakland did not convert a shot from behind the arc was on Jan. 30, 1988 vs. Wayne State University. The Golden Grizzlies have hit a three-ball in 997-consecutive games, which is the fifth-longest streak in the NCAA.
- Oakland’s scoring with Williams versus without is a difference of 7.2 ppg. For the first time this season, the Golden Grizzlies have scored 70 or more points in six-straight outings.
- Oakland hadn’t led at home by double figures since December 28 against Detroit coming into this week. Against Cleveland State on Thursday night, the Black and Gold led by as many as 12. Against the Penguins this afternoon, the lead reached a height of 18. It was the first time since playing Fairfield on December 21 and the Titans on December 28 that Oakland had a double-digit lead at home in consecutive games.
- Oakland is 65-22 in the month of February since 2009. In eight of those seasons, the Golden Grizzlies have won at least six games in February.
-jph-
