ROCHESTER, Michigan — Less than one month ago, the Oakland men’s basketball team took top-ranked Michigan State to overtime before falling 99-93.

In addition to a six-point loss to the Spartans, Oakland lost by 13 on the road at then-fifth-ranked Virginia.

On Tuesday, Northern Kentucky picked up its biggest victory of the season – and arguably its biggest win since the move to Division I – by defeating the Grizzlies 90-73.

The game was tight throughout the first half, with NKU holding a 41-39 lead at the intermission.

NKU led 43-42 with 18:10 remaining when the Norse ripped off a 12-2 run. Drew McDonald had a two and a three while Jalen Billups knocked down four free throws. The Norse led 55-44 with 15:11 left.

Oakland failed to cut its deficit until a surge with 7:53 remaining. The Grizzlies pulled within five, 67-62, with 5:15 left.

The Norse lead was 72-66 with 3:21 remaining. NKU put Oakland away with a 16-4 run over the next 2:27.

Four NKU players scored in double figures. Billups led the way with 22 points and 8 rebounds. Tyler White had 20 points and 6 assists. Drew McDonald added 18 points and 11 rebounds. Lavone Holland II had 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

Kay Felder, one of the top players in the Horizon League, led Oakland with 25 points on 7 of 19 shooting. Jalen Hayes added 20 points and 9 rebounds.

NKU (6-11, 2-4 in Horizon League) dominated the boards, outrebounding Oakland 42-27. In addition, the Norse shared the ball better than Oakland, earning 20 assists on 29 field goals compared to just 10 on 22 for the Grizzlies.

The Norse shot 52.7 percent from the floor for the game and made 21 of 26 from the free throw line. Oakland (11-8, 3-3) shot just 37.9 percent.

Fresh off of this victory, the Norse return to BB&T Arena for a stretch of five home games in six starting 7 p.m. Friday with Illinois-Chicago.

Summary

Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016

@ Blacktop at the O’rena, Rochester, Michigan

Northern Kentucky 90, Oakland 73

N — 41 – 49 — 90
O — 39 – 34 — 73

(90) NORTHERN KENTUCKY (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Garnett 1-0-0-2, Billups 7-0-8-22, White 6-5-3-20, Holland II 4-3-5-16, Murray 1-1-0-3, Giesler 2-0-0-4, McDonald 7-1-3-18, Danos 1-1-2-5. TOTALS 29-11-21-90.

(73) OAKLAND (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Hayes 6-1-7-20, Gibson 2-0-2-6, Felder 7-2-9-25, Dorsey-Walker 1-0-0-2, Walker 2-2-1-7, Daniels 1-1-2-5, Hooper 1-1-0-3, Hill-Mais 2-0-1-5. TOTALS 22-7-22-73.

FIELD GOALS: N 29/55 (Billups 7/8, McDonald 7/13, White 6/11, Holland 4/10); O 22/58 (Felder 7/19, Hayes 6/11)

3 POINT FIELD GOALS: N 11/25 (White 5/10, Holland 3/5); O 7/25 (Felder 2/7, Walker 2/5)

FREE THROWS: N 21/26 (Billups 8/8, Holland 5/6); O 22/31 (Felder 9/11, Hayes 7/10)

REBOUNDS: N 42 (McDonald 11, Billups 8, Holland 6); O 27 (Hayes 9, Felder 4, Hill-Mais 4)

ASSISTS: N 20 (White 6, Holland 5); O 10 (Felder 3)

STEALS: N 5; O 8

BLOCKED SHOTS: N 1; O 2

TURNOVERS: N 15; O 7