ROCHESTER, Mich. – The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team fell at Oakland on Thursday evening by a final score of 76-74. NKU is now 12-4 on the year and 2-1 in the Horizon League. Oakland moves to 7-9 overall and 3-0 in league play.
 
STATS LEADERS

• Jalen Tate finished with 14 points, six rebounds and six assists.
• Tyler Sharpe also had 14 points and added four rebounds and two assists.
• Drew McDonald just missed out on a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. He also had four assists.
• Zaynah Robinson was also in double figures with 10 points. He also chipped in four assist and two rebounds.

 
TURNING POINT

• NKU was within one point at 75-74 with 1:31 to play. The Norse couldn't get the go-ahead bucket, and Oakland knocked down a free throw with under a second remaining to get the 76-74 victory.   

 
FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• The Norse had a 9-5 lead at the first media timeout.
• Oakland battled back and took a 21-16 lead with 10:29 to play in the half. However, the Norse went on an 11-0 run to go ahead 27-21. Robinson scored the first eight points in the run, and Sharpe capped it off with a three-pointer.
• NKU closed the half on a 7-0 run and prevented Oakland from scoring in the final 2:36 to take a 42-32 lead into halftime.
• Sharpe led the Norse with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from behind the arc.
• Robinson added eight points, and Tate finished the half with seven points, three rebounds and four assists.
• The Norse shot 16-of-30 (53.3 percent) from the floor and 7-of-16 (43.8 percent) on three-point attempts.
• Oakland went 12-of-26 (46.2 percent) on field goals and 4-of-12 (33.3 percent) on three-pointers.
• NKU had 12 assists on 16 made field goals in the half.

 
SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• Oakland chipped away at the NKU lead in the second half, and the Golden Grizzlies took a 63-61 lead with 6:56 to play in the game.
• Trevon Faulkner responded with a quick layup to tie the contest at 63-63.
• Five-straight points put the Golden Grizzlies ahead 68-63 with 5:39 remaining.
• The Norse got within one point two times down the stretch, but Oakland held on to get the 76-74 victory.
• NKU shot 12-of-26 (46.2 percent) from the floor in the half.
• Oakland went 13-of-25 (52.0 percent) on field goals, including 7-of-14 (50.0 percent) on attempts from behind the arc.

 
GAME NOTES

• The Norse finished 28-of-56 (50.0 percent) from the floor in the game.
• Oakland went 25-of-51 (49.0 percent) on field goals.
• The Norse had a 38-24 advantage in points in the paint.
• NKU also outrebounded Oakland 33-25.

 
NEXT UP

• The Norse head to Detroit Mercy on Saturday, Jan. 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.