DEFIANCE, Ohio -- The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's basketball team picked up a crucial road victory, defeating the Defiance College Yellow Jackets 93-79 in a high-scoring affair. The win improves the Wolverines to 4-10 on the season and 3-4 in conference play, while Defiance falls to 3-9 overall and 1-6 in conference action.
The Wolverines dominated the second half after trailing by six points at halftime, outscoring Defiance 54-34 in the final 20 minutes to seal the win. Michigan-Dearborn's offense was on fire, shooting 49.2% from the field and 52.9% from three-point range. The Wolverines also connected on 20 of 32 free throws (62.5%) and forced 16 turnovers.
Defiance College came out strong in the first half, building a 45-39 lead at the break behind a balanced scoring attack. The Yellow Jackets shot 45.9% from the field, led by Connor Bush, who had 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including a three-pointer. Despite shooting just 25% from beyond the arc, Defiance capitalized on second-chance opportunities and kept the game close.
Michigan-Dearborn, however, was efficient in the first half. Jackson Reynolds led the charge, scoring nine points. Jonathan Ammori and Zachary Cody contributed eight and seven points, respectively. However, the Wolverines struggled defensively in the first half, allowing Defiance to take the lead.
The Wolverines came out of the break with a renewed focus on both ends of the floor. Michigan-Dearborn ramped up its intensity and quickly gained control of the game. Jackson Reynolds continued his stellar play, finishing with 31 points and seven rebounds. His five three-pointers (5-of-7 from deep) helped Michigan-Dearborn shoot 9-of-17 from beyond the arc for the game.
Reynolds' scoring outburst was supported by Zachary Cody, who added 14 points and five rebounds, and Jonathan Ammori, who chipped in 17 points and nine rebounds. Thomas Dillard IV had a strong all-around performance with 15 points and 12 rebounds. The Wolverines' offense flowed seamlessly, and they capitalized on Defiance's defensive lapses.
