Wolverines Secure Crucial Conference Victory in Back-and-Forth Affair
Thomas Dillard IV recorded a double-double in 38 minutes of work.
DEARBORN, Mich. -- The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's basketball team needed a come-from-behind win to secure their fourth Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference victory. The Wolverines edged out the Cleary Cougars 77-74 thanks to 14 second-half points from Jackson Reynolds.
UM-Dearborn trailed by three points heading into the break despite losing their Head Coach to a double technical early in the half. Dearborn native Haasan Abbas rallied the team and played stifling defense, particularly in the second half, where they gained and retained their lead after several Cougar runs. Despite Cleary's strong individual performances, the Wolverines' collective effort and efficient second-half shooting helped them edge out the victory.
The key to UM-Dearborn's win was their ability to capitalize on Cleary's turnovers and their superior rebounding. They finished with 39 total rebounds to Cleary's 38. They also made more free throws, going 10-of-15 compared to Cleary's 5-of-7, which proved pivotal in the final stretch.
Ultimately, the balanced scoring and solid defense secured the 77-74 win, improving their record, while Cleary could not fully capitalize on their scoring threats.
