Rochester, Mich. - Oakland University took a five-point lead midway through overtime and then went 8-for-8 from the free throw line in the final 38 seconds to fend off the Milwaukee men's basketball team and escape with a 79-70 victory Sunday afternoon at the O'rena.
 
"We're making this a routine," Milwaukee head coach LaVall Jordan said of another overtime contest. "That was just a great college basketball game. We were fighting like crazy – I am so proud of our guys and both teams competed at the highest level. It was fun to watch and be a part of in terms of competition."
 
The Panthers (8-15, 4-6 Horizon League) went to overtime for the third game in a row for the first time in program history, coming up just short of a big victory over the Golden Grizzlies (16-7, 6-4 Horizon League) in the final seconds of regulation.
 
"That's basketball," Jordan said. "The other night at Detroit, they missed a couple at the line and today it was us – it's just kind of how the game goes. I am proud of our guys to fight and compete the way that they did. I thought we gave everything we had and just have a couple of plays I wish I had back. That was a great game and everyone fought their tails off."
 
Cody Wichmann led the charge, scoring all 17 of his points after a scoreless first half. Brock Stull added a dozen points and six rebounds and Cameron Harvey joined them in double-figures with 10, sinking three 3's on the day.
 
Brett Prahl added nine points and five rebounds, while Bryce Nze chipped in seven points and a team-best eight rebounds.
 
Jalen Hayes led the Griz with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds on a strong outing from the floor that saw him finish 11-of-13. Sherron Dorsey-Walker had 15 points and eight boards, including a key three-pointer midway through the overtime period that gave OU a five-point lead at 69-64.
 
Stull would hit a couple of 3's to inch Milwaukee closer, but that perfect showing from the charity stripe down the stretch sealed the win.
 
Tied at 30 to start the second period, the Panthers would not allow the Grizzlies to get ahead by more than two possessions, and Harvey's four-point play with 12:54 to play made in a 45-43 OU lead at the time. Oakland went ahead again and built its biggest lead of regulation at 49-43, but UWM turned it around quickly and got much-needed stops and makes.
 
Wichmann had a layup and was fouled and then his triple from the top handed Milwaukee a 53-52 advantage. The teams traded baskets down the stretch. Nze's clutch free throws with 1:18 remaining tied it again and Prahl put UWM ahead at 64-62 on a layup. The Panthers had a chance at the end, but could not convert from the line with 5.5 seconds left, sending the contest to overtime.
 
Milwaukee gritted out a 30-30 draw at intermission, finding a way to stick with the Golden Grizzlies despite hitting just 3-of-13 from long distance. Back and forth from the start, August Haas keyed six points in a row with his rebounding and passing, finding Jeremiah Bell underneath in transition to push UWM back ahead at 18-17.
 
Nze's layup on a nice inbounds pass from Bryce Barnes made it 22-22, one of eight ties in the opening 20 minutes. Harvey drilled a 3 from the wing for one of eight lead changes as well in the first, giving UWM a 27-25 lead at the 5:18 mark.
 
UWM turned up the defense from there, not allowing a field goal for OU the final 6:44, but went cold from the floor itself. Teams combined to miss their final 15 shots, with free throws providing the only scoring down the stretch. Bell's pair of makes from the charity stripes with 19.6 left gave UWM a 30-29 advantage and a free throw in the final seconds knotted it up.
 
Milwaukee shot 41.5 percent (27-of-65) from the floor on the day, but hitting less than 40 percent from the free throw line (8-of-21) hurt its chances. Oakland finished at 45.6 percent (26-of-57) and won the rebounding battle, 43-35.
 
Up next, the Panthers open the month of February with a pair of home games, starting Thursday against league-leading Valparaiso. Game time against the Crusaders is set for 7 p.m. at UWM Panther Arena.