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ROCHESTER, Mich. (AP) -- Derick Nelson had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Shawn Hopes added 15 as Oakland beat Southern Utah 77-69 in a Mid-Continent Conference game Thursday night.
The Golden Grizzlies (11-9, 4-0) have won five of six after a four-game losing streak. Southern Utah (11-8, 2-2) have lost three of four.
Johnathon Jones added 15 points and five assists for Oakland, while Vova Severovas scored 13.
Steve Barnes led the Thunderbirds with 19 points, including 15 in the final 5:30. Swaney Cooper and Nurudeen Adepoju had 15 each, even though Adepoju missed most of the second half with a leg injury.
Southern Utah had an early advantage, but Oakland took control with a 21-3 run and led 36-26 at the half.
The Golden Grizzlies scored the first seven points of the second half, but Cooper helped Southern Utah cut away at the deficit.
The Thunderbirds got as close as seven, thanks to Barnes' hot finish, but Oakland made 11 straight free throws to ice the game.
