The Oakland University men’s basketball team opened its 2009-10 season Saturday night, but left the home crowd of more than three thousand fans disappointed, losing to Eastern Michigan 81-77 in a game they were favored to win.

The Grizzlies spent the entire game playing catch-up, leading for just a few seconds early in the first half, and trailing by as many as 13 in the second half.

After the game, head coach Greg Kampe said that his team still has a lot of work to do if they are to ever reach the preseason expectations that were set for them.

“It’s a disappointing way to start the season,” Kampe said. “This brought everybody back to reality that you’ve got to play the games – go out, execute and defend and we did not defend very well.”

OU was able to make the game appear much closer at the end than it actually was. With 44 seconds remaining in the contest, point guard Johnathon Jones connected on a three-point shot to cut the deficit to just two points. But with a chance to tie the game, Keith Benson missed a shot down low and fouled to send EMU to the free throw line to seal defeat for the Grizzlies.

Statistically for Oakland, Jones led with 23 points, including 16 in the second half. He also dished out nine assists, the most for a player on either side.

“I just choose my spots for when I can attack. I don’t like to force things and I don’t like to put pressure on myself. When I see an opening, I try to take advantage of it,” Jones said after the game.

Derick Nelson and Benson also scored in double figures, with 20 and 15 points, respectively.

OU was plagued by poor free throw shooting throughout the game, converting just 45 percent for the game. Nelson, in particular, missed eight important free throws in the second half.

“Nobody can beat anybody if they are 9 for 20 from the free throw line … I’ve coached a long time and I don’t think I have ever seen that before,” Kampe said.

Throughout the game, Oakland had no answer to stopping EMU forward Brandon Bowdry, who scored a game-high 26 points to go with 13 rebounds and was a dominating presence in the paint.

The loss snapped the Grizzlies 14-game winning streak at the O’Rena, which dated back to two seasons ago.

Oakland will face the Wisconsin Badgers Wednesday for their first road game of the season.