DEARBORN, Mich. – For the first time since joining the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, the University of Michigan-Dearborn men's basketball team will host a home WHAC Postseason Tournament game. UM-Dearborn clinched home court in the first round of the WHAC Tournament after topping Madonna University Saturday at the UM-Dearborn Fieldhouse.
The Wolverines battled through a physical matchup with the Crusaders and emerged with a 67-63 win, pushing the team to 18-11 overall and 13-6 in the WHAC.
UM-Dearborn sits in third place in the WHAC, a half-game ahead of Aquinas College after the Saints defeated Concordia University on Saturday. Aquinas, which is 12-6 in the WHAC, could take over third place in the event of a tie with the Wolverines, due to a season sweep of UM-Dearborn. Madonna is now two and a half games back of the Wolverines, who played just one more time during the regular season.
The top four teams in the final WHAC standings host a first-round game in the postseason tournament.
In the win over the Crusaders, senior Jason Penn(SR/Detroit, MI) led the way with his eighth double-double of the season. Penn finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, also hitting a 3-pointer late in the contest to help secure the win. The triple was Penn's first of the season and the third of his career. Penn added four blocks.
Senior Gage Throgmorton (SR/White Lake, MI) hit three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points, while Mafiaion Joyner (JR/Battle Creek, MI) added nine points.
The Wolverines shot 24-of-67 from the field, 7-of-22 from deep and 12-of-19 from the line while being outrebounded 54-42.
Madonna was led by Davon Taylor with 15 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.
The Wolverines close the regular season against No. 1 Cornerstone University at 7:30 pm Wednesday at the UM-Dearborn Fieldhouse. The game will be preceded by a Senior Night ceremony to honor the winningest class in Wolverine men's basketball history.
