ROCHESTER, Mich. — Brad Buddenborg scored 21 points, including five 3-point baskets, as Oakland beat Southern Utah 58-57 on Saturday.
Jason Rozycki's free throw with 2.8 seconds left gave the Golden Grizzlies (9-7, 2-0 Mid-Continent) the win. Rozycki finished with 11 points.
Mike Helms added 16 points for Oakland.
Jay Collins led the Thunderbirds (3-11, 0-2) with 17 points. Dan Beus added 15 points, and Jason Baker scored 13.
In a game that was hotly contested throughout, Oakland took a 55-49 lead with four minutes left.
Southern Utah closed to 55-53 and had a chance to tie with 2:11 left to play, but Jay Collins missed the front-end of a one-and-one. Moments later, Buddenborg hit a pair of free throws to increase the Grizzlies' lead to 57-53.