Basketball is a game of runs, but sometimes it’s just a game of who can hit their free throws when the lights are brightest. If you missed the Oakland vs Robert Morris game on January 4, 2026, you missed a masterclass in aggressive, "get-to-the-cup" basketball.
Oakland didn't just win; they dismantled a Robert Morris team that came into the O'rena with a better record and a lot of momentum. The final score, 96-73, tells a story of a Golden Grizzlies squad that is finally finding its identity under Greg Kampe.
It was loud. It was physical. And frankly, it was a bit of a bloodbath at the charity stripe.
The Isaac Garrett Show
The headline here is Isaac Garrett. Honestly, what he did was historic. Garrett put up a career-high 30 points, but the stat that makes you rub your eyes is the 16-for-16 performance from the free-throw line.
You don't see that often.
In fact, it was the third-best free-throw performance in the history of Oakland’s program. Every time Robert Morris tried to get physical in the paint, Garrett made them pay. He became the first Oakland player to hit the 30-point mark in a regular-season game since Trey Townsend did it back in 2024.
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He was relentless.
RMU tried to throw different looks at him—double teams, zone looks, physical man-to-man—but Garrett just kept drawing contact. When a guy is shooting 100% on 16 attempts, the defense eventually starts to play "hands-off," and that’s when Oakland really started to feast in the paint.
Why Robert Morris Struggled to Keep Up
On paper, Robert Morris was the "better" team entering the day. They were 11-6. Oakland was sitting at .500. But the Colonials looked shell-shocked by the atmosphere at the OU Credit Union O'rena.
DeSean Goode did his best to keep them in it. He dropped 18 points and grabbed 8 boards, showing why he was such a highly-touted transfer from IU Indy. But outside of Goode, the Colonials couldn't buy a bucket in the second half. They shot 0-for-8 from three-point range in the final 20 minutes.
Zero.
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You can’t win road games in the Horizon League if you can't space the floor. Ryan Prather Jr., who is usually their primary deep threat, went 2-for-8 from deep. When the outside shots stopped falling, Oakland’s defense clamped down on the interior, forcing 10 turnovers and turning the game into a track meet.
The "Blacktop" Factor
There is something about that black court in Rochester that messes with people. Maybe it's the lighting, or maybe it's just the psychological edge Greg Kampe has cultivated over 42 seasons.
Oakland’s bench production was key, too. While Garrett and Tuburu Naivalurua (who had a quiet but massive 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting) handled the heavy lifting, guys like Brody Robinson and Michael Houge did the dirty work. Robinson dished out five assists and went 8-for-8 from the line himself.
The team finished 33-of-37 from the stripe. That’s 89.2%.
If you’re Andy Toole sitting on the RMU bench, you’re pulling your hair out. Your team actually shot a decent 45.9% from the floor, but you gave up 33 points to a stationary target. That’s the definition of a defensive breakdown.
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How the Standings Look Now
This win pushed Oakland to 4-1 in the Horizon League, moving them right into the thick of the title hunt. Robert Morris dropped to 3-3 in the conference.
- Northern Kentucky still leads the pack.
- Wright State and Purdue Fort Wayne are neck-and-neck.
- Oakland is the "team nobody wants to play" right now.
The Golden Grizzlies have this weird way of starting slow in November and December—usually because Kampe schedules "buy games" against giants like Michigan, Purdue, and Houston—and then they become a buzzsaw in January. We're seeing that pattern repeat perfectly in 2026.
What's Next for Both Teams?
Robert Morris has to go back to the drawing board before their trip to Cleveland State. They need to find a way to get Ryan Prather Jr. cleaner looks, or teams are going to continue to pack the paint against Goode and Chitikoudis.
Oakland, meanwhile, is looking like a legit contender to cut down the nets in Indianapolis this March. If Naivalurua and Garrett stay healthy, their frontcourt is arguably the best in the league.
Keep an eye on the rematch. These two meet again on February 15 at the UPMC Events Center in Moon Township. You can bet the Colonials will have that date circled. They’ll want revenge for the 23-point embarrassment they just endured.
Watch the foul counts. If Robert Morris can't defend without hacking, the result in Moon Township won't be much different. But if they can keep Oakland off the line, we might actually have a game on our hands.
If you are following the Horizon League race, make sure to track the health of Brody Robinson. He’s the engine that makes the Oakland offense go, and his ability to facilitate for the big men is what makes this team a nightmare to scout. Check the updated conference standings after the next round of mid-week games to see if Oakland can leapfrog into that top spot.