DETROIT – The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's basketball team stepped up to face NCAA Division II foe Wayne State University in a non-conference matchup Tuesday at the Matthaei Center in Detroit.
The Wolverines rallied from a second-half hole, but the Warriors held on for the win 74-67. The loss drops UM-Dearborn to 10-5 this season.
Prior to the start of the contest, it was announced that the Wolverines are ranked 23rd in the latest NAIA Division II Coaches' Poll, the first national ranking for UM-Dearborn in men's basketball program history.
After controlling the pace for most of the first-half, the Wolverines were down six at the break. Senior Gage Throgmorton (SR/White Lake, MI) hit a 3-pointer with 14:25 left to put UM-Dearborn up 44-41. The Warriors took control from there, going on an 18-2 run. UM-Dearborn fought back with an 11-0 run later in the half, but could not get the deficit lower than five the rest of the way.
Senior Jason Penn (SR/Detroit, MI) led the Wolverines with 15 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. Sophomore Cody Kegley (SO/Yale, MI) was a force on both ends of the court, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds and five steals, including steals on three straight Warrior possessions in the second half. Senior Ashton Curd (SR/Detroit, MI) and Throgmorton each added nine points.
The Wolverines shot 24-of-51 from the field, 6-of-16 from deep and 13-of-23 from the line. The teams were even on the boards at 26-26.
Ronald Booth scored a game-high 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting for WSU, while George Spencer added 13 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.
The Wolverines have the next eight days off before traveling to take on Robert Morris University-Illinois at 7 pm Dec. 21 in Chicago.
