Highland Heights, Ky. — The Oakland Golden Grizzlies secured a solid victory over the Northern Kentucky Norse with a final score of 68-53 on Saturday night, thanks in large part to D.Q. Cole’s impressive 16-point performance.

Cole also contributed five rebounds to the team’s effort, helping Oakland improve its record to 6-12 overall and 3-4 in the Horizon League. Tuburu Niavalurua was another standout for the Grizzlies, scoring 15 points and achieving an impressive shooting percentage of 87.5% by hitting 7 out of 8 attempts. Moreover, Niavalurua grabbed nine rebounds, making him a key player in both scoring and defensive plays.

Isaiah Jones also made his mark on the game, finishing with 10 points. His performance included shooting 4 out of 5 from the free-throw line, although he struggled from beyond the arc, going 0 for 3 in three-point attempts. Jones added five rebounds and contributed defensively with three steals.

For the Norse, Sam Vinson was the leading scorer with 11 points, while Josh Dilling chipped in with 10 points. LJ Wells also made his presence felt with eight points and two steals, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap against Oakland.

Both teams are set to return to the court next Wednesday. Oakland will be playing at home against IU Indianapolis, while Northern Kentucky will be on the road to face Cleveland State.