INDIANA TECH HANDS UM-DEARBORN FIRST WHAC LOSS

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's basketball team was handed its first loss in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference action, falling to Indiana Tech Tuesday in Fort Wayne, Ind.

The Wolverines (RV) trailed by just three points at the half after a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by the Warriors, but Indiana Tech outscored UM-Dearborn 64-32 in the final 20 minutes to pull away for a 102-67 win. The loss drops UM-Dearborn to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the WHAC.

Senior Jason Penn (SR/Detroit, MI) led the Wolverines with 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting, while senior Ashton Curd (SR/Detroit, MI) added 12 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Junior Xavier Crofford (JR/Detroit, MI) finished with nine points and four assists, while junior Mafiaion Joyner (JR/Battle Creek, MI) chipped in with seven points.

The Wolverines shot 26-of-64 from the field, 7-of-22 from deep and 8-of-15 from the line. Indiana Tech won the rebound battle 44-31.

Six Warriors finished in double figures led by Joel Wincowski with 23 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting from the field. Edmond Early added 17 points, while Darren Groves finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.

The Wolverines are in action next against the defending national champions, No. 2 Union College, at the NAIA DII Showcase at 5 pm Saturday in Kingsport, Tenn.