KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's basketball team took the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend as an opportunity to head south for a premier NAIA basketball event in Kingsport, Tenn.
The Wolverines (RV) played the first of two games in two days at the NAIA Division II Showcase, taking on the defending national champions, No. 2 Union College (Ky.) Saturday. The Wolverines and Bulldogs battled back and forth all game, but UM-Dearborn took control when it mattered, closing the game on a 16-6 run to capture a 74-64 win.
The Wolverines were led by senior Jason Penn(SR/Detroit, MI) with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. Penn narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds.
Junior Mafiaion Joyner (JR/Battle Creek, MI) came through with big baskets late and finished with 14 points, while junior Xavier Crofford (JR/Detroit, MI) added 13 points and seven rebounds. Senior Ashton Curd (SR/Detroit, MI) recorded eight points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
The Wolverines shot 24-of-49 from the field, 4-of-11 from deep and 22-of-31 from the field.
UM-Dearborn concludes its trip with a matchup against the host school, the University of Rio Grande at 11 am Sunday.
NOTE: Full stats have yet to be reported by the host school.
