ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. - -The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's basketball team was handed a 98-79 defeat by Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Friday evening in a non-conference matchup at Garth Pleasant Arena. The loss drops the Wolverines to 2-3 on the season, while Mount Vernon Nazarene improves to 4-1.

Despite strong individual performances, particularly from Jackson Reynolds and Joshua Warren, the Wolverines struggled defensively and were unable to keep pace with Mount Vernon Nazarene's high-scoring offense, which shot a blistering 52.2% from the field.

The first half saw Mount Vernon Nazarene get off to a hot start, shooting 55.3% from the field and draining 7 of 14 three-pointers. The Wolverines, on the other hand, managed to keep it close early, thanks to the efforts of Reynolds and Warren, who both scored in double digits in the first half. Reynolds, who led the team with 24 points, finished the night with 7-of-16 shooting and was 8-of-11 from the free-throw line, while Warren added 23 points on 7-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.

However, the Wolverines' defense was porous throughout the game, allowing Mount Vernon Nazarene to score efficiently inside and from long range. Peyton Heiss led the charge for the visitors with 17 points, hitting 6-of-11 from the floor, while Trent Koning added 20 points, including three three-pointers. Carter Jones also played a key role, finishing with 10 points and seven rebounds, while Bailey Conrad contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.

By halftime, the Wolverines trailed 47-34, and despite a strong second-half effort that saw them score 45 points, they were unable to close the gap.