ROCHESTER, Mich. – The No. 6 Golden Grizzlies will look to book its second-straight #HLMBB Championship Game appearance as it takes on No. 1 Robert Morris Monday (March 10) at 7:00 p.m. ET in the semifinal round at the Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis, Ind., live on ESPNU.
The Golden Grizzlies (16-17, 11-9 HL) took care of business in the quarterfinal round on the road as it took down No. 3 Milwaukee, 72-64, for its fifth-straight #HLMBB Championship game win, dating back to last season.
Allen Mukeba led Oakland with 21 points and seven rebounds, shooting a perfect 9-for-9 from the field, while Buru Naivalurua contributed 20 points and six rebounds. The Golden Grizzlies took control early, leading 39-31 at halftime, and maintained their advantage despite a strong second-half push from Milwaukee, led by Themus Fulks with 20 points and six assists. A late surge from the Panthers brought them within three, but key three-pointers from Jaylen Jones, clutch free throws from Oakland and struggles at the line from Milwaukee secured the win for Oakland. Overall, the Golden Grizzlies shot .519 from the field and outrebounded Milwaukee 31-22.
Mukeba leads the Golden Grizzlies with 14.5 points per game, shooting at a .571 clip from the floor, as he also paces the team off the glass with 7.7 boards per game. Naivalurua is right behind him, shooting at a .555 mark for 13.9 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. DQ Cole is also in the double-digits for scoring, with 10.9 per game, and has made the most threes on the team with 70.
As a team, the Golden Grizzlies narrowly get outscored, by a mark of 71.4-70.5, as it shoots .436 from the floor. Oakland sinks 7.5 threes per game and allow 8.6 per game, as Oakland leads off the glass with 35.5 boards per game compared to its opponents 33.8. Oakland also outpaces its opponents in steals as it’s come away with 6.5 per game compared to its opponents 6.1.
This marks the sixth time the Golden Grizzlies have made the semifinals in the Horizon League and hold a 2-3 record. It won its first semifinal matchup in 2021 as it beat Northern Kentucky (March 8, 2021), 69-58, before it fell to Cleveland State in the championship game. It’s second win came last season as it took down Cleveland State, 74-71, as Cole was second on the team in scoring with 20.
DATE: March 10
OPPONENT: #1 Robert Morris
LOCATION: Corteva Coliseum – Indianapolis, Ind.
TIME: 7:00 p.m. ET
LIVE STATS
LIVE STREAM: ESPNU
LIVE AUDIO
TICKETS
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
BRACKET
GAME NOTES
The Colonials (24-8, 15-5 HL), who won the #HLMBB regular season for the first time in program history, will also be making its first trip to the semifinal game as part of the league. Robert Morris, who joined the league in 2020-21, took down No. 8 Wright State, 83-62, for its first quarterfinal round win. Robert Morris also rides an eight-game win streak, with its last loss coming against Wright State (Feb. 2), as the team’s won 14 of its last 15 games.
This marks the first time the Colonials and Golden Grizzlies will face each other in the #HLMBB Championship and is its first neutral site meeting in its 14-game history. With a 10-4 record overall against Robert Morris, the Golden Grizzlies fell in both of its meetings this season against the Colonials. It first fell in Rochester, Mich. (Jan. 4), 79-71, allowing 47 second half points, and fell 21 days later in Moon Township, Pa., 73-71, after a three-point foul called with :01 second left eventually gave Robert Morris the win, making two of three.
The Colonials have four players in the double-digits for points, as the team is led by Kam Woods who averages 14.8 points per game, shooting at a .373 clip from the floor. Behind him is Alvaro Folgueiras who nearly averages a double-double with 14.2 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game. DJ Smith paces the team with 51 threes as he shoots at a .380 clip from beyond the arc.
Robert Morris outscores its opponents, 76.4-70.0, as the team is .450 from the floor and hold its opponents to a .437 clip. The Colonials make 7.4 threes per game and hold its opposition to 6.8, as it shoots at a .344 mark from deep. Off the glass, Robert Morris also has the edge with 37.3 rebounds per game, 4.9 more than its opponents.
Tip-off from Corteva Coliseum is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET live on ESPNU.
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