MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — Michael Houge scored 19 points and Brody Robinson added 17 as Oakland defeated Milwaukee 73-60 in a Horizon League men’s basketball game Thursday night at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. The Golden Grizzlies (10-9) built a 41-30 halftime lead and maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the second half. The Panthers (8-11) never closed the gap within 11 points after intermission. Isaac Garrett contributed 13 points for Oakland. Sekou Konneh led Milwaukee with 16 points, and Aaron Franklin scored 13. Attendance was 1,643.

MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — In a Horizon League men’s basketball game defined more by defensive grit and offensive inefficiency than any aesthetic beauty, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies used a dominant first half to secure a 73-60 victory over the Milwaukee Panthers on Thursday night at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. A crowd of 1,643 watched as Oakland, the visiting team, built an 11-point halftime lead and maintained a comfortable margin throughout the second half to improve to 10-9 overall. Milwaukee fell to 8-11. The most important part of the game was Oakland’s initial surge and Milwaukee’s profound inability to answer from beyond the arc. The Golden Grizzlies opened the contest on a 15-2 run, fueled by the interior play of Michael Houge and Isaac Garrett. That early cushion proved critical as both teams settled into a slog characterized by missed shots and turnovers. Milwaukee’s offensive struggles were particularly glaring from three-point range, where they finished a dismal 2 for 20. Oakland was not much better at 4 for 16, but their early work inside established a tone and a lead they would never relinquish. Houge, a 6-foot-7 forward from Detroit, led all scorers with 19 points, while guard Brody Robinson of Houston added 17 points and four assists. Garrett, from Pleasant Grove, Utah, provided a strong all-around effort with 13 points, four assists and a block. For Milwaukee, local product Sekou Konneh, a 6-foot-9 forward, led the way with 16 points. Aaron Franklin of Kansas City, Missouri, contributed 13 points. The game’s statistical profile underscored the rugged nature of the contest. Oakland scored 73 points on 75 possessions for an offensive rating of 96.8, while Milwaukee managed only 60 points on 77 possessions, an offensive rating of 78.4. Both teams shot under 35% from the floor, with Milwaukee’s 24-for-70 performance slightly worse than Oakland’s 25-for-59. The Panthers did hold advantages in offensive rebounds (15-11), assists (10-7), and steals (10-7), but those were negated by their poor shooting and Oakland’s 19-for-24 performance at the free-throw line, compared to Milwaukee’s 10-for-18. The second half saw Milwaukee never cut the deficit to single digits. Every Panther push was met with a response, often from Houge or Garrett in the paint or Robinson at the line. A technical foul on Milwaukee’s Tate MacKenzie with 6:43 remaining, which led to Oakland free throws, typified the Panthers’ frustrations as they tried unsuccessfully to mount a sustained rally. The result flipped the pregame projections, as Oakland entered as a narrow 2-point favorite despite National Statistical’s ELO system giving Milwaukee a 55.6% probability to win. The combined score of 133 points fell well under the over/under line of 165.5. Oakland, which had split its last two conference games, now looks ahead to a Sunday matchup at Green Bay. Milwaukee, coming off a win over IU Indy, will travel to Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Rochester, Michigan, on Feb. 22.

Preview: Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Milwaukee Panthers MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — Two Horizon League men’s basketball teams seeking consistency will meet Thursday night when the Oakland Golden Grizzlies visit the Milwaukee Panthers at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. Both teams enter the contest with sub-.500 overall records. Oakland (9-9) has alternated wins and losses over its last five games, most recently falling 94-84 to Wright State on Sunday. Milwaukee (8-10) snapped a three-game skid with a 95-83 victory over IU Indy that same day. The matchup features two of the conference’s most dynamic scorers. Oakland will lean on guard Brody Robinson, who is coming off a career-high 35-point performance in the loss to Wright State. Over his last seven games, Robinson is averaging 17.6 points and 5.1 assists, serving as the engine for the Golden Grizzlies’ offense. Milwaukee will counter with forward Amar Augillard, who exploded for 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting in the win over IU Indy. Augillard has provided efficient scoring bursts for the Panthers, reaching double figures in six of his last seven appearances despite fluctuating minutes. Oakland’s recent success has been fueled by its offense, averaging 87.5 points in its last four wins. However, defensive lapses have been an issue in losses, including Sunday’s game where they allowed 94 points. Support for Robinson against Wright State came from Tuburu Naivalurua (15 points) and Brett White (11 points). For Milwaukee, the win over IU Indy showcased a balanced attack behind Augillard, with Josh Dixon adding 20 points and Aaron Franklin contributing 19. The Panthers will look to build on that offensive flow and protect their home court, where they are 6-4 this season. This game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They will meet again in Rochester, Michigan, on Feb. 22. Following this contest, Oakland travels to face Green Bay on Sunday. Milwaukee will hit the road for a game at Purdue Fort Wayne that same day. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Thursday.