ROCHESTER, Mich. – A key first-half scoring run by Oakland proved too much to overcome for the Milwaukee men's basketball team, which saw its five-game winning streak snapped Thursday evening at the O'rena.
 
"We have to play cleaner, and better, and tougher – especially on the road in a tough environment," head coach Bart Lundy said. "But don't take anything away from Oakland – they made the plays they needed to make and had us on our heels all night."
 
The Panthers (10-5, 3-1 Horizon League) cut a 16-point first half deficit down to under double-figures against the Golden Grizzlies (5-10, 2-2 Horizon League) but could never dig out of that 18-3 run in the middle of the first half that essentially decided the game.
 
Jamichael Stillwell and Themus Fulks led the way with 14 points each. Stillwell saw his historic double-double streak end at a school record five consecutive outings, dealing with foul trouble in coming up one short in grabbing nine rebounds before leaving the contest with his fifth foul with 6:05 remaining.
 
Fulks made 7-of-15 shots from the floor, adding five rebounds.
 
"I don't want to put this out of their heads," Lundy said when asked about the team responding to a quick turnaround to play again in 48 hours at Detroit Mercy Saturday. "I want them to think very long and hard about it and to be upset and to go in and play upset at Detroit Saturday."
 
Allen David Mukeba led the Grizz with 15 points and grabbed nine boards, one of four players in double-figures for the home side.
 
A slow start thwarted MKE's chances to remain perfect in league play, connecting on 35 percent of its field goals in the first half while committing eight turnovers. The team did score the final six before intermission to cut the deficit to 33-23 at the break after the 18-3 run put the Golden Grizzlies ahead, 33-17.
 
"They got going early and we struggled to score," Lundy said. "Not that we didn't struggle to score all night, but early was really tough. And the way they score frustrates you … it's one-on-one and they back you down. And when they missed, we didn't get rebounds. And then when we got rebounds and fastbreak opportunities, we didn't convert. There were a lot of factors that were frustrating."
 
Oakland had an answer for every punch the Panthers tried to land in making a comeback following intermission, limiting the visitors to their lowest point output of the season in the 65-49 decision. Foul trouble for Stillwell (22:20 on court) and Kentrell Pullian (26:30) did not make things easier as Oakland moved to 3-1 at home on the season.
 
Milwaukee finished the night at 37.0 percent (20-of-54) from the floor, while OU connected on 42.3 percent (22-of-52). The team shot just seven free throws (4-of-7) compared to the 24 (18-of-24) of the home side.
 
Up next, the Panthers remain in Michigan and head to play Detroit Mercy Saturday. Game time against the Titans is set for 12 p.m. CT.