INDIANAPOLIS – The first day of #HLMBB play saw Milwaukee, UIC and Cleveland State battle to the final seconds to start the League season 1-0, while Wright State and Northern Kentucky earned double-digit point victories in their HL openers.
RESULTS
| Game | |
| Wright State 93, Detroit Mercy 70 | |
| Northern Kentucky 79, Youngtown State 64 | |
| Milwaukee 68, Green Bay 65 | |
| UIC 72, Oakland 70 | |
| Cleveland State 63, Purdue Fort Wayne 61 |
STANDINGS
| Team | #HLMBB Record | Overall record |
| Wright State | 1-0 | 3-1 |
| Milwaukee | 1-0 | 2-1 |
| UIC | 1-0 | 4-2 |
| Northern Kentucky | 1-0 | 3-3 |
| Cleveland State | 1-0 | 1-3 |
| IUPUI | 0-0 | 1-0 |
| RMU | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| Youngstown State | 0-1 | 3-1 |
| Purdue Fort Wayne | 0-1 | 1-1 |
| Detroit Mercy | 0-1 | 1-4 |
| Green Bay | 0-1 | 0-5 |
| Oakland | 0-1 | 0-8 |
GAME RECAPS
Wright State 93, Detroit Mercy 70
- The defending regular season champions continued its winning ways in its Horizon League opener with a balanced attack as five Raiders finished in double figures.
- Tanner Holden and Trey Calvin led Wright State with 19 points each, while Preseason Player of the Year Loudon Love was one rebound shy of a double-double with 14 points and nine boards.
- Detroit Mercy was led offensively by Marquell Fraser with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting and Antoine Davis added 15 points.
- The Raiders shot 59 percent from the field including 66.7 percent in the second half. WSU was also 10-of-20 from behind the arc.
Northern Kentucky 79, Youngstown State 64
- Northern Kentucky, the two-time defending tournament champions, started off the League season with a victory behind a second-half surge that saw the Norse outscore the Penguins 45-33.
- The Norse were led by talented freshman Marques Warrick, who collected 18 points and five rebounds, and senior Adham Eleeda, who went 6-of-7 from long range to finish with 18 points.
- Youngstown State’s Michael Akuchie fell one rebound short of a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Naz Bohannon chipped in 12 points and also recorded nine boards.
- After leading by just three at half, the Norse turned up their defensive effort and held YSU to 29 percent shooting from the floor and 1-of-8 from 3-point range for the half.
Milwaukee 68, Green Bay 65
- In the battle of Wisconsin, Milwaukee was able to draw first blood with a hard fought three-point victory on the road.
- Te’Jon Lucas scored a game-high 21 points for the Panthers and recorded team-bests in rebounds (7) and assists (6). C.J. Wilbourn added 13 points.
- Green Bay’s Josh Jefferson continued his strong start to the season with 21 points and Amari Davis added 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor.
- Milwaukee’s bench may have proven the difference as it outscored Green Bay’s bench 26-10.
UIC 72, Oakland 70
- UIC started the League season with a win at home overcoming a six-point halftime deficit and a late surge by the Golden Grizzlies.
- Jamie Ahale led the way for the Flames with eight 3-pointers to finish with 25 points and Teyvion Kirk tallied a double-double with 15 points and 11 assists.
- Jalen Moore continued his strong play for Oakland as he registered 25 points and five assists. Daniel Oladapo also had a big game for the Golden Grizzlies with 18 rebounds and 15 points, while freshman Trey Townsend chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds.
- The Golden Grizzlies averaged 17.5 3-pointers per game over their last two contests, but UIC was able to hold Oakland to just a pair of triples.
Cleveland State 63, Purdue Fort Wayne 61
- Cleveland State picked up a win in its Horizon League opener, 63-61, on the road as Purdue Fort Wayne competed in its first Horizon League game.
- The Vikings were led by Tre Gomillion with 16 points, while Deante Johnson and Torrey Patton added 13 points each.
- In his first Horizon League contest, Jared Godfrey led the Mastodons with 21 points and eight rebounds.
- Cleveland State held a 36-18 advantage in points in the paint and defensively forced 27 turnovers.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live Stream |
| Sunday, Dec. 20 | Wright State at Detroit Mercy | 2 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| Milwaukee at Green Bay | 2 p.m. | ESPN3 | |
| RMU at Marshall | 2 p.m. | CUSA.TV | |
| Youngstown State at Northern Kentucky | 3 p.m. | ESPN2 | |
| Cleveland State at Purdue Fort Wayne | 5 p.m. | ESPN3 | |
| Oakland at UIC | 5 p.m. | ESPN+ |
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