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07-24-09 Newberry Commits to Mustangs

Newberry signed with his mother at his side.

DETROIT, MI--The Mustangs gained valuable size on Thursday when they signed their second student-athlete of the day. Rochester High School big man Keith Newberry inked a letter of intent after being heavily recruited by the Mustangs for months.

Newberry, a 6’7” forward/center, caught the attention of the coaching staff after high recommendation from his high school assistant coach Andrew Topie. After that, the Mustangs needed only one look at the promising big man to know he was right for the program. Newberry’s breakout game of 23 points against Romeo in the district finals of his junior year was just the beginning of what was to come. Becoming a well-rounded player in the post, Newberry averaged a double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds) during his senior campaign. The impressive season would land Newberry team MVP and All-OAA honors.

07-24-09 Armstrong is Marygrove Bound

Armstrong is shown with Coach Donahue and Asst. Coach Covington.

DETROIT, MI--The commitments from local talent continue to stream in for the Mustangs late into the summer months. Already being tabbed as the best recruiting class in program history, the Mustang men added two more faces on Thursday. The first to commit was Academy of Oak Park standout Justin Armstrong.

Armstrong comes to Marygrove after a celebrated career as a Ram at the Academy of Oak Park. The 6’4” versatile forward was second on his team in scoring and helped lead the Rams to a district championship and regional runner-up. Armstrong first hit the radar during his sophomore campaign when he posted 35 points on Allen Academy. He continued the stellar career through his senior year when he tallied 17 points against Cherry Hill in a game that was played at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Coach Donahue on Armstrong: Justin brings much needed versatility to our team. He is a forward with the athleticism of a guard. Coming from a winning program, Justin gives us the hunger we need in a young player. He is a strong worker that will add a new dimension to our program.

07-23-09 Mustangs Add Reyes from Cesar Chavez

Reyes inks his letter of intent.

DETROIT, MI--Men’s basketball continued their best offseason in program history on Tuesday when they welcomed another local talent to Marygrove. Justin Reyes, a 2008 Cesar Chavez graduate, signed a letter of intent to join the men cagers for the upcoming season.

Reyes, a 6’3” versatile combo guard, is a four-year starter that possesses the ball handling skills of a point guard and the range of a shooting guard. Over the course of a stellar high school career, Reyes helped develop Cesar Chavez into a premiere program in the Charter School League. An All-League and All-Conference selection, Reyes helped lead his team to an undefeated conference slate (14-0) in 2008. His guidance would land him with the heralded Aztec Leadership Award at Cesar Chavez. His senior campaign would be capped off with an amazing 30-point 15-assist night against Westin Academy.

Coach Donahue on Reyes: Justin has tremendous potential. He is a very unselfish player who can score and pass as good as anybody. He is the type of player that will get better each day with other phases of the game because of his work ethic. We are pleased to have Justin commit to our program.

07-10-09 Danville's Carter Inks Letter of Intent

Carter shakes the hand of coach Glen Donahue during signing.

DETROIT, MI--Men’s head coach Glen Donahue branched out of Michigan for his latest signing. After receiving high recommendation from a local recruiter, Danville, Illinois native Isaiah Carter drew the interest of the men’s coaching staff. Shortly after his first visit to the college Carter committed to the Mustangs. He signed a letter of intent to join the Mustang men this fall.

Carter, a 6’3” versatile guard/forward from the Illini state, comes to Marygrove after a well-rounded high school career. The three year player assisted his team to a fourth place finish at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament while achieving greatness in the classroom. Carter was a mainstay on the honor roll and most recently was the recipient of an academic scholarship for his hard work in the classroom. He was also a Big Twelve Leadership Conference representative.

Coach Donahue on Carter: Isaiah is great all-around student-athlete. He is a driven young man that will be successful on and off the court at Marygrove. He is a great rebounder and passer from the small forward position. Isaiah will be an important part of our program for years to come.

07-06-09 All Saints Star Coburn Inks with Mustangs

All Saints Cameron Coburn is joined by his family.

DETROIT, MI--Marygrove men’s basketball added another fine student-athlete from their 2009 recruiting class on Monday afternoon. Former Bay City All Saints standout Cameron Coburn committed to Marygrove as he inked a letter of intent to play this upcoming season. He joins a heralded freshman class that is headed to Marygrove this fall.

Coburn, a 6’1” rangy combo guard, is a natural scorer with a wealth of basketball experience. During an impressive senior campaign that ended with a regional championship, Coburn averaged 10 points per game to go along with 90 assists and 38 steals. The stellar season landed Coburn All-Conference and All-State Honorable Mention honors. Currently, Coburn is prepping for his first year of college basketball by playing in a competitive summer league in Bay City.

Coach Donahue on Coburn: Cameron proved to have outstanding ability and leadership qualities when he led his team into the quarterfinals of the MHSAA tournament this past season. We are looking forward to coaching a player as talented and driven as Cameron. He is an athletic combo guard that will be a strong student and player in our program over the next four years.

07-06-09 Mustangs Add Speed with Roseburgh

Roseburgh is the latest addition to the 2009 class.

DETROIT, MI--A full slate of summer workouts and pickup games were not enough to keep Coach Donahue from signing another student-athlete on Monday. Covert High School product Delaney Roseburgh was the latest to join Mustang basketball by signing his letter of intent.

Roseburgh, a 5’11” point guard, comes to Marygrove with speed, and a lot of it. His unique skillset landed him three years on varsity as a starter. During his junior and senior seasons, the two-year captain was a back-to-back All-Red Arrow Conference selection. He topped off a successful career by leading his team to the Christmas Tournament and Red Arrow Conference championships his senior season.

Coach Donahue on Roseburgh: Delaney is a physical guard with exceptional speed. His quickness should be of great value to our pressure defense and fast break style. His high school coach Grant Gondrezick, a former NBA player, gave him a strong recommendation. We are pleased to sign a young man like Delaney. He will be a fine student-athlete at Marygrove for years to come.

07-01-09 Mustangs Add Whitsett to Impressive Class

Whitsett Shown with Family and Coaching Staff at Signing.

DETROIT, MI--The latest men’s basketball recruit didn’t have to travel far to sign his letter of intent. Detroit Kettering standout Mark Whitsett made the short trip to the Marygrove Campus to officially join the Mustang family. He joins a budding group of young talent on the Mustang roster that looks to make a splash in the 2009-2010 season.

Whitsett, a 6’0” versatile guard, comes to Marygrove after a successful career at Kettering High. On the court, he led Kettering to back-to-back district final games as a captain during his junior and senior seasons. The all-around athlete excelled at baseball and cross country as well. Whitsett was able to taste success on the diamond as the 2009 campaign ended with a district championship. His stint in cross country brought honors his way also as he was named to the All-East City Team.

Outside of his accomplishments in sports, Whitsett valued his education and was rewarded for his efforts. Highlighting an impressive resume, Whitsett was the 2009 recipient of the Rock Financial/Detroit Pistons “Know Your Black History” scholarship.

Coach Donahue on Whitsett: Mark is a fine young athlete that will be a tremendous asset to our program. His uncle and coach, Arvis Young, highly recommended him to our staff. He is combo-guard with exceptional athletic ability that can even play at little at the “3” spot. Our staff is looking for him to develop into a fine ball player within our program at the college level.

06-04-09 Former Foley Star Inks with Mustangs

Sinagoga joins the Mustangs with Dr. Andreoli and his father at his side.

DETROIT, MI --Glen Donahue added another prized recruit to the 2009 class on Thursday afternoon with the signing of a local star. Former Foley standout Chris Sinagoga committed to the Mustangs after being heavily recruited by the men’s basketball coaching staff. He will join two other student-athletes (women’s soccer) that make the Bishop Foley-to-Marygrove jump this fall.

Sinagoga, a 6’ versatile point guard, comes to Marygrove with previous college basketball experience. Last year, he hit the hardwood for NCAA Division III Albion College. After a brief stay, he decided to come back home and play for the local Mustangs. Sinagoga made the most of his days on the court during high school where he earned All-Area Dream Team and All-Metro Third Team honors, while averaging 17 points, six rebounds and six assists per game. The battletested guard also helped lead his team to Quarterfinals as a sophomore and Regionals as a senior.

Sinagoga signed the letter of intent with his aunt (Marygrove Science/Mathematics Co-Chair) Dr. Jeanne Andreoli at his side. Dr. Andreoli has been the Co-Chair of the Department for three years and has served 12 years overall at Marygrove College. The signing brings a whole new meaning to the term “Mustang Family.”

Coach Donahue on Sinagoga: Chris was one of our top recruits last season and we are pleased to have him in our program. He has remarkable skills from the guard position and is a solid defensive player. He is working hard this offseason and I expect him to make a splash this upcoming season.

05-07-09 Mustangs Add Suber to 2009 Class

Suber Shown with Father and Coaching Staff at Signing.

DETROIT, MI--Men’s basketball added another student-athlete to an increasingly impressive 2009 class. Oak Park’s Jeff Suber signed his letter of intent inside the new Marygrove College Wellness Center on Tuesday. The former Knight will hit the court as a Mustang this fall.

Suber, a versatile 6’1” guard, enjoyed a successful career during his playing days at Oak Park. Highlighting a brilliant career, Suber helped Oak Park to League and District Championships during the 2007-08 campaign. Showcasing his all-around play, he compiled an impressive average of eight points and seven rebounds per game during his senior season.

Coach Donahue on Suber: Jeff is a solid all-around player. He will fit well into our system because he is a natural athlete. Above all else, Jeff comes to Marygrove as a successful student. His work ethic on and off the court will be a welcome addition to our program.

04-29-09 Murry Signs Letter of Intent

Murry Shown with Mother and Coaching Staff at Signing.

DETROIT, MI--Head Coach Glen Donahue ushered in another student-athlete by signing his second of the day on Wednesday. Romulus Summit Academy’s William Murry signed his letter of intent to play for the Mustangs in the fall. The signing was also the second for the 2009 Mustang class.

Murry, an athletic 6’ combo-guard, is a welcome addition to the 2009 class. His breakout game came his senior year against rival Henry Ford Academy when he exploded for 25 points, 10 steals and 8 assists. With a solid all-around game, Murry was a prominent figure in the Charter School League for much of his career.

Coach Donahue on Murry: William was a good player for Summit Academy. I expect him to develop into a fine college player as well. He handles the ball well and can score on the fast break. We are looking forward to coaching him next season.

04-29-09 Mustangs Ink Fitzgerald's Enoex

Ken Enoex is the First to Join the Mustangs 2009 Class.

DETROIT, MI--Head Men’s Basketball Coach Glen Donahue announced the signing of his first student-athlete for the 2009-2010 season. Warren Fitzgerald High School standout Ken Enoex inked his letter of intent to play next fall for the Mustangs. Enoex became the second Fitzgerald Spartan (Mariah De'Nooijer-Women’s Basketball) to commit to the Mustangs this month.

Over the course of a successful high school career, the versatile 6’4” forward earned the honors of being named MAC Silver All-Conference Third Team. On his way to an all-conference season, Enoex was tabbed Macomb Player of the Game an impressive three times. During his senior season, Enoex was a double-double machine with an average of 14 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks per game.

Coach Donahue on Enoex: Ken is a very aggressive rebounder with exceptional defensive ability. Mix his talent with our strength and conditioning program and he will become a force in our program. Ken is also on the Track & Field Team at Fitzgerald and competes in the 100 yard dash. His speed will be an asset to our up-tempo style.

04-15-09 Mustang Duo Tabbed A.I.I. All-Conference

DETROIT, MI--Two Mustangs were honored as they were recently named to the 2009 Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) All-Conference Team. Freshman guard Marcus Hopkins, left, and senior forward Nick Roberts, right, were awarded by the A.I.I. for their outstanding seasons on the court. Both Hopkins and Roberts were starters this past season for the Mustangs.

Hopkins, a 6’1” guard from Southfield High, led the Mustangs in scoring at 15.9 per contest. Over the course of a grueling 30-game season, Hopkins only failed to reach double-figures four times. The uber-athletic guard is known for getting up and down the floor and breaking down opposing defenses with his deceiving speed. The slashing Hopkins shot 43% on the season for the Mustangs.

Roberts, a 6’4” forward, was the lone senior on the Mustang squad this year. The senior sniper led the Mustangs in 3PM, 3PA and 3P%. He was second on the Mustangs in scoring with 12.2 points per game. Only with the Mustangs for two seasons after transferring from Oakland Community College, Roberts still managed to land himself in the Marygrove College record books as he ended his career in the top five all-time for 3PM and 3P%.

Both men improved their game as the season progressed. For Hopkins, it was the adjustments made from the high school-to-college jump. For Roberts, it was the long road to recovery from an early season shoulder injury. Moreover, Hopkins and Roberts stepped up their play when it came time for the postseason as they averaged 22 and 15 points per game respectively.

03-06-09 Mustangs End Season at 14-16 with 97-88 Loss

MCKEESPORT, PA--The Mustangs hit the court for the final time this season on Friday night when they met up with conference rival Indiana University-Northwest. This meeting would have playoff implications much like the meeting between the two teams in the A.I.I. Conference Tournament (IUNW 74, Mustangs 66—Feb. 26). This time, the Mustangs and Redhawks would battle for fifth place in the USCAA instead of an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship. Unfortunately, the Redhawks topped the Mustangs once again 97-88.

The two teams would battle close in the opening minutes of the game before a 12-12 tie was broken up by the sharpshooting Redhawks. Showcasing two players that average over four 3-pointers per game, the Redhawks balanced outside attack sparked a huge run. Pete Trgovich III would hit 3 of his tournament record 11 three point shots during a 23-4 Redhawk run. Before they knew it, the Mustangs faced a 35-16 first half deficit with 5:03 remaining before the break. Marcus Hopkins and Darius Kellar would bring the Mustangs back within striking distance with timely takeaways and key buckets. The effort could not bring the Mustangs within single-digits at the half (Redhawks 56, Mustangs 42).

The Mustangs used halftime adjustments to slice the Redhawk lead to five with 8:13 to play 71-66. Trgovich would spark the opposition once again with back-to-back baskets from behind the long line. Trgovich would go on to score 41 points on 11-21 shooting from beyond the arc. The Redhawks relentless offensive attack would result in a Mustang loss, 97-88. The loss ends the Mustangs season one game under .500 at 14-16. The record is a vast improvement over last season’s 3-23 mark.

Freshman Marcus Hopkins, pictured, led the Mustangs with a career-high 32 points (15-of-33 FG). Senior Nick Roberts added 13 points in his final collegiate contest. The deep threat Roberts amassed 52 points over the course of three tournament games.

03-05-09 Mustangs Upset #5 Falcons in OT

UNIONTOWN, PA--The Mustangs hit the hardwood at the USCAA National Championship on Thursday to square off against #5 seed Florida College. The game would mark the first meeting between the two teams, as well as the first time the Mustang men have faced any team from the state of Florida. One day after losing to #1 seed Talladega College, the Mustangs looked to rebound with a victory over favored Florida College. The winner would move on to play Indiana University-Northwest in the fifth place game.

The Mustangs raced out to a quick lead for the second day in a row behind their signature uptempo style of play. The men from Marygrove got out to an impressive 26-13 lead before a late first half run by the Falcons closed the gap. The 13-point Mustang lead was erased by an aggressive Falcon squad that attacked the offensive glass. The Falcons run brought them to within one point as the first half closed, 33-32. The Mustangs would go into the half determined to not let another significant lead slip away this season.

The Falcons were able to carry their momentum over to the second half and bolted to a double-digit lead, 61-49. The deficit would remain within 9-to-12 points until the Mustang magic began. Down nine with 4:32 remaining in the game, the Mustangs began what was a heroic comeback. Senior Nick Roberts took the game into his hands as he hit for four 3-pointers in the final minutes of the contest. Roberts would lead the Mustangs back to within four points with a minute remaining.

After a Mustang bucket cut the deficit to two, Frank Murdock was called to the line for what could be the game-tying free throws. Murdock (60% FT) came up two clutch free throws to tie the game 76-76. The Falcons mishandled the inbounds pass as Darius Kellar would snag one of his game-high 5 steals with just over 40 seconds (:40) to play. Showing great poise and maturity, Kellar slowed the offense down to use the full :35 shot clock. Marcus Hopkins drained a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Mustangs up 79-76 with 11 seconds to go. The Falcons raced down the court for a three of their own to tie the game once again with only :03 to play. A Darius Kellar prayer would come up short as time expired sending the game to overtime.

The Falcons took control first as they got out to a two possession lead within the first 1:30 of overtime play. The Mustangs fought back to erase the deficit once again and tied the game with just over a minute of extra time to play. Fearless freshman Darius Kellar would drain three key free throws down the stretch to finally put away the pesky Falcons, 95-93.

Senior Nick Roberts, pictured, put on a heroic performance on the offensive end as he went off for a Mustang season-high 31 points. Roberts would drain six 3-pointers in the second-to-last game of his collegiate career. Marcus Hopkins followed with 19 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds. Darius Kellar added 17 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 3 assists. All-American Honorable Mention Justin McKinney checked in for his sixth double-double of the season (10 points-10 rebounds). Eric Johnson tossed in 11 points to round out double-figure scorers for the Mustangs.

The win sets up the highly anticipated rematch against Indiana University-Northwest. The Redhawks left a sour taste in the Mustangs mouth since their 74-66 A.I.I. Tournament loss. The loss would cost the Mustangs a trip to the NAIA National Tournament. The game will be played at 8 PM Friday for fifth place in the USCAA.

03-05-09 Two Mustangs Named to All-American Teams

UNIONTOWN, PA--Two Mustangs were recognized on the national level during the 2009 United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National Basketball Championship Banquet. Sophomore Justin McKinney was named Honorable Mention All-American, while Junior transfer Frank Murdock was awarded Academic All-American status. Over 400 people were in attendance as the student-athletes were identified for their achievements.

Pictured L-R: Coach Donahue, Frank Murdock,
Justin McKinney, Athletic Director Dave Sichterman

McKinney, a 6’6” sophomore from Mumford High, earned the honor of All-American Honorable Mention after putting together a well-rounded regular season. Over the course of 27 games, McKinney averaged 10.6 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. McKinney added over two assists and steals per game as well. He also amassed an impressive five double-doubles on the season. Above all else, the sophomore grew into a great leader and an even finer young man.

Coach Donahue on McKinney: “Justin had an outstanding sophomore season. He is a tremendous defensive player that shows the willingness to improve his game. We are delighted Justin received this honor.”

Murdock, a 6’6” junior transfer from Oakland Community College, is known as the hardest worker on the team. The distinction follows Murdock to the classroom as well. Focused on his future, Murdock was honored for his impressive 3.6 cumulative GPA as he was named to the Academic All-American Team. Student-athletes must maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA to be named to the All-Academic Team.

Coach Donahue on Murdock: “It is an honor well deserved. He has a great record as both a student and an athlete. We are very pleased that Frank was recognized by the USCAA for his hard work in the classroom and on the court.”

The United States Collegiate Athletic Association is a national organization that exists to provide quality athletic competition on a regional and national level for smaller institutions of higher learning and their student-athletes. The goal of the USCAA is to provide opportunities for small colleges to compete on an equal level of competition with schools of like size and athletic programs.

03-04-09 Top Seeded Tornadoes End Mustangs Title Run

UNIONTOWN, PA--The #8 Mustangs played the role of underdogs in their opening round matchup against the Tornadoes from Talladega College. The Tornadoes came into the game as the top seed after completing a record setting 22-7 regular season. Five of their wins would come at the expense of NCAA Division I programs. The Mustangs were confident they could hang with the favored Tornadoes due to their early season schedule that included NCAA Division I, II and III programs.

The Mustangs were off to a hot start from the floor as the action began in the 2008-09 USCAA National Tournament and quickly jumped out to a surprising 7-1 lead on the #1 ranked Tornadoes from Talladega. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, both the hot shooting and the lead quickly evaporated after a Tornado timeout calmed down the top seed from Alabama. The Tornadoes showcased an impressive inside attack, led by 7’1” All-American Jeral Davis, to climb back and regain the lead. Davis, who came into the game averaging over 16 points, 8 rebounds and 7 blocks per game, was a force to be reckoned with for the Mustangs.

Freshmen Darius Kellar and Marcus Hopkins joined forces and sparked a late Mustang rally in the final two minutes of the first half to cut the Tornado lead to six. The battle-tested Tornadoes fought bacby scoring on their final two possessions of the half to take a 36-26 lead into the break.

The Mustangs could not match baskets with the top seeded Tornadoes in the second half and the lead ballooned to 20 points by the 12:00 mark. The towering Talladega squad made it difficult for the Mustangs to slice to the basket as they were forced to take shots from the perimeter the entire game. Talladega would hit on 47% of their shots, compared to the Mustangs season low 27%. In the end, the Mustangs would fall to the Tornadoes 70-47.

Marcus Hopkins, pictured, led the Mustangs once again with 16 points. Nick Roberts and Justin McKinney followed with 8 points each.

The loss places the Mustangs in the consolation bracket against fifth ranked Florida College. Florida College made it to the finals last year’s championship tournament. Game time is set for 6 PM Thursday.

02-26-09 Mustangs A.I.I. Title Hopes Dashed

GARY, IN--The Mustangs traveled to Indiana to take part in the inaugural Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) tournament on Thursday. After a disappointing 2007-08 campaign (3-23), the Mustangs entered the tournament with a .500 record (13-13) after putting together a successful regular season. The Mustangs drew the #2 seed Indiana-Northwest Redhawks by entering the tournament as the #3 seed in a four team tournament. Unfortunately, Indiana-Northwest was also the host institution for the tournament. The Redhawks displayed a balanced attack in front of their home crowd to eventually put away the Mustangs, 74-66.

The Mustangs got off to a blistering start from the field and quickly pulled ahead 11-4. The lead, and the hot shooting, would not last for long as the Redhawks battled back behind great support from their fans. The Mustangs never found their rhythm in the first half as early foul trouble would sit numerous starters. Cold Mustang shooting would allow the Redhawks to stay in the game in the first half as the visiting Mustangs shot 14-of-45 from the field in the first half. The Mustangs went into the break up two, 34-32, despite cold shooting and foul trouble.

Half number two was the beginning of the end for the Mustangs. The lethal shooting Redhawks were on fire from the field in the second half shooting 58%. The Mustangs shots would not fall as they countered with a frigid 28% effort from the floor.  NAIA title dreams would end as the Redhawks went on to beat the Mustangs, 74-66. The loss eliminates the Mustangs from the A.I.I. conference tournament and NAIA postseason play.

However, all postseason play is not over for the Mustangs. National title hopes are still alive as the Mustangs travel to Pittsburgh, PA next week for the USCAA National Tournament. The Mustangs enter the tournament as the #8 seed. The #8 seed will land them a showdown with #1 seeded Talladega College Tornadoes. The Tornadoes feature a pair of 7’ big men that compliments a very talented backcourt.

Game Notes: Freshman guard Darius Kellar snagged a season-high 11 rebounds to go along with 8 assists and 5 points. Sophomore Davon Bryant (pictured) displayed great heart by forcing Redhawk turnovers and battling for loose balls in limited minutes.

02-21-09 Mustangs falter against USCAA foe

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI--The Mustangs braved the inclement weather en route to a USCAA showdown against the (21-6) Rochester College Warriors. The matchup between the two schools comes within weeks of the USCAA National Championship where the two teams may meet again. The Warriors won the previous meeting this season, 75-50. The Mustangs looked to avenge the early season loss and hand the Warriors a loss on their home court on senior day.

The Mustangs started the game out on a good note with a deep three by senior Nick Roberts. The two teams exchanged baskets for the next few minutes of action before the Warriors would begin to pull away. Usual suspect Adrian Schaeffer was held in check by super sophomore Justin McKinney for most of the first half. Unfortunately, the Mustangs could not contain Steve McCune in the first half as he dropped in 20. Roberts and Marcus Hopkins kept the Mustangs close with their inside-outside presence. Despite their efforts, the Mustangs would trail at the half, 43-29.

A new-look Mustang squad hit the floor in the second half and frustrated the Warriors. The Mustangs would go on a 10-2 tear to start the half. The run would force a Warrior timeout. After the timeout, the Warriors would go on a run of their own to put the game out of reach. McCune would total 31 points on the afternoon as he led the Warriors over the Mustangs for the second time this season, 78-56.

Marcus Hopkins, pictured, topped all Mustangs with 18 points (9/10 FT). Nick Roberts followed with 14 points and 4 boards of his own (4/9 3 pt).

The Mustangs will have to bury the loss quickly as they prepare to host the University of Michigan-Dearborn Monday. A win will mark the first .500 team in program history at the end of the regular season. The Mustangs edged the Wolves by one point (67-66) in their meeting earlier this season. Game will be played at Ford Fieldhouse in Highland Park. Tipoff at 1 PM.

02-17-09 Hopkins named AII/USCAA Player of the Week

DETROIT, MI--Marcus Hopkins is the USCAA Player of the Week & the NAIA’s Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Male Athlete of the Week, for the week ending February 15, 2009. The freshman guard willed his team to victory on the road early in the week against Algoma University. With his team down by four at the half (40-36) Hopkins took over in the second half scoring 20 of his 29 points. The Southfield native also registered seven rebounds and six assists in the Mustangs 76-60 come from behind victory. On Saturday, Hopkins put on another 20-point performance to go along with eight assists in a 113-70 rout of fellow A.I.I. member Holy Cross College (IN).

02-14-09 Mustangs Cruise to .500 with 113-70 Win

DETROIT, MI--The Mustangs welcomed fellow Association of Independent Institutions (AII) member Holy Cross College to town on Saturday afternoon for a matinee tip-off. The Mustangs previously defeated Holy Cross on the road 93-74 earlier this season. Things would not get any easier for the Saints when they learned the Mustangs were holding Recruit Day and Senior Day when they came to town. Over 50 prospective student-athletes, as well as the traditional Mustang faithful, came out to cheer the Mustangs on to victory.

The ecstatic home crowd witnessed the Mustangs get off to an incredible 19-0 start within the first six minutes of the ball game. The combination of guards Darius Kellar and Marcus Hopkins led the Mustang surge early on. Kellar would force three of his game-high five steals in the first few minutes of play that led to many Hopkins transition buckets. Hopkins totaled 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the floor in the first half.

The Saints put up a fight before the end of the first half with a 17-7 run of their own led by Zac Cook. Cook nailed four first half 3-pointers to bring the Saints to within 15 points just before half. The Mustangs would add a late Justin McKinney basket and headed to the locker room with a 52-35 advantage.

It was only fitting that the second half belonged to the lone senior on Senior Day. Nick Roberts (pictured), who was acknowledged before the game for his two years of service at Marygrove, dominated the second half the only way he knows how; by nailing three point shots. Roberts connected on four of his five 3-pointers within a 5:00 span in the second half. The effort would land Roberts with a game-high of 25 points on the afternoon.

Sophomore Eric Johnson was one of three Mustangs to tally a double-double with a dominant 20 point-13 rebound effort. Johnson was followed in the double-double stat line by Nick Roberts with 25 points and 10 rebounds and Justin McKinney with 16 points and 11 boards. Marcus Hopkins neared his second double-double of the season with a 20 point-8 assist performance, while Darius Kellar chipped in 14 points, 6 assists and 5 steals.

The swarming Mustang effort overwhelmed the visiting Saints as the Mustangs cruised to victory, 113-70. The win brings the Mustangs to .500 at 12-12 on the season. It is the first time since game two of the 2007-08 season since Coach Donahue and his Mustangs were .500 or better.

The Mustangs will now patiently await word if their 12-12 record will land them a spot in the USCAA National Tournament. Currently, the Mustangs are ranked 12th in the nation (top 8 seeds advance). The Mustangs are hoping their current six game winning streak (12 of their last 17 overall) will be enough to convince the pollsters that they belong in the national tournament.

02-10-09 Hopkins Scores 29 in 76-60 Mustang Win

SAULT STE MARIE, ONTARIO--The Mustangs left the country once again en route for Sault Ste Marie, Ontario to take on the Algoma University Thunderbirds for a matinee tip.  The six hour road trip proved to be a factor early on as the Mustangs got off to a sluggish start. The Mustangs would pull it together over the course of the game and outscore the home Thunderbirds 40-20 in the second half to win 76-60.

The aggressive Thunderbird attack would keep the underdog in the game with the favored Mustangs for the entire first half. Frank Murdock kept the Mustangs in the game by limiting Thunderbird possessions with key rebounds and timely blocks. Marcus Hopkins, who dished out 12 assists last game, came out shooting and went to battle for the Mustangs. The team did not regain the lead after their sluggish start and went into the break down four, 40-36.  

Coach Donahue and his staff set the tone at the half and the results showed in the box score. The Mustangs came out strong and outscored the Thunderbirds by 20 points in the second half. The men from Marygrove used their athleticism to attack the rim for high percentage baskets and shot 51% percent in the second half. Marcus Hopkins got the Mustangs off and running again by turning on the Mustang fast break. The Thunderbirds had no answer for Hopkins, or the fast break, and eventually folded under the athleticism of the Mustangs. The Mustangs would go on to win on the road once again, 76-60.

Marcus Hopkins had a career night with 29 points (12/17 FG), 7 rebounds and 6 assists. The giant line shows the maturity in Hopkins game as the season progresses. Hopkins, 18 assists in the last two games, compiled 74 assists over the first 21 games of the season. Hopkins’ 29 points tied a Mustang season high (Nick Roberts 01/31 vs. Great Lakes Christian). Frank Murdock dominated the glass on his way to a double-double with 14 rebounds and 10 points. Justin McKinney added 12 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals off the bench.

The win would boost the Mustangs to 11-12 on the season, one game shy of .500. The Mustangs will look to be .500 for the first time in nearly two seasons on Saturday when they host Holy Cross College. Holy Cross has already fallen victim to the Mustang attack this season, 93-74 (01/17).

02-07-09 Mustangs Inch Closer To .500

FT. WAYNE, IN--The Mustangs traveled to the Hoosier State to take on the Taylor Univesity-Ft. Wayne Falcons. The meeting would mark the last between the two teams due to the recent announcement of the closing of TUFW. The Mustangs were eager to win the last matchup in the series history and leave with no score to settle against the Falcons.

The young Mustang squad came out hot and grabbed an early lead behind great team play. An unselfish Marcus Hopkins set his teammates up for easy baskets by penetrating the Falcon defense and dropping the ball off for an easy layup. When Hopkins didn’t drop it off for a layup, he looked out outside for sharpshooting senior Nick Roberts (pictured). Roberts connected on 3 of his 5 three pointers in the first half giving the Mustangs a sizeable 35-22 lead going into the break.

The Falcons would claw their way back in the second half behind a brilliant performance from Tyler Morningstar. Morningstar kept the Mustangs in check with 34 points (most scored against Mustangs this season). The Falcons also looked to slow down the up-tempo style of play the Mustangs brought to the table by using the entire shot clock.

The Mustangs were able to grind it out just as well when they turned to their big man, Eric Johnson (8/10 FG). Johnson, standing at 6'7", towered over the smaller Falcon squad and connected on many huge buckets down the stretch. When it was all said and done, the Mustangs were able to rise above the slow methodical play of the Falcons for a 73-58 victory. The win takes the Mustangs to 10-12 on the season.

Sophomore Eric Johnson and senior Nick Roberts (5/6 3PM) would lead the Mustangs with 18 each. They would be followed in double-figures by sophomore Justin McKinney with 10. Marcus Hopkins added a career-high 12 assists to go along with 9 points.

02-04-09 Johnson Dominates In Win Over Saints

WINDSOR, ONTARIO--The road warrior Mustangs left home once again to face St. Clair College on Wednesday night. In fact, the Mustangs left the country en route to Windsor, Ontario, Canada, home of the St. Clair College Saints. The game marked the 17th road tilt in 21 games this season. The Mustangs seemed all too comfortable on the road once again, winning by a convincing 91-59 margin.

It was not long before Coach Donahue and the Mustangs took control of the game on both ends of the court. The Mustang press weakened the Saint attack early and enabled the Mustangs to get easy fast break baskets. The relentless, up-tempo style of play continued as the Mustangs were ready to put away their opponent quickly. One reason for the early success was the big man in the middle, Eric Johnson. Johnson proved to be too much of presence in the first half and sank every shot he attempted in the first half as Marygrove jumped out to a 41-31 lead at the break.

The Mustang offensive slammed it into overdrive in the second half and took away any Saint momentum for the rest of the game. The combination of guards Darius Kellar and Marcus Hopkins, forwards Nick Roberts and Justin McKinney, and Center Eric Johnson showcased their superior athleticism on the Saints and dictated the contest. All five scored in double-figures for the Mustangs in the 91-59 route.

Six foot-seven inch big man Eric Johnson (pictured) had a career night with 25 points on 10-of-12 from the field (28 minutes). Johnson would also add 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals. Johnson never played organized basketball before his freshman season (last year). “Eric has improved vastly over the past year or two. We look to Eric as one of the cornerstones of our future here at Marygrove,” stated men's head coach Glen Donahue.

Johnson would be followed in the scoring column by his fellow starters Marcus Hopkins and Justin McKinney with 15 and 14 respectively. Nick Roberts and Darius Kellar would top the double-digit mark with 12 apiece.

02-02-09 Mustangs Survive Road Thriller

GRAND RAPIDS, MI--The Mustang men hit the road to square off against Kuyper College for the second time this season. The Mustangs cruised to a 93-59 victory at home a few weeks earlier. This time the Mustangs would be subject to a hostile road environment instead of having the luxury of playing in front of their home crowd. The Cougar faithful are well-known for their intense presence at Kuyper home games.

The crowd played a factor early and often during the game and rattled the young Mustangs from the tip. After the first five minutes of back-and-forth basketball, the Mustangs settled in and took control of the lead for the remainder of the first half. Freshman Marcus Hopkins got off to a hot start and kept the Mustangs in the lead early. After his early tear, Hopkins got into foul trouble and was forced to sit the remainder of the first half. The Mustangs looked to balance the scoring book after their leading scorer went to the bench.

Sophomore Justin McKinney scored on back-to-back drives to put the Mustangs up by four possessions with only minutes to play in the half. However, the relentless Cougars got behind their rowdy crowd and mounted a late first half comeback to trail by only three (34-31) at the half.

The Mustangs knew they were in for a tough battle after they let the dangerous Cougars back into the game just before the break. The second half was intense as the home crowd heated up watching both teams exchange buckets. The score remained in the Mustangs favor for most of the second half until a ferocious Cougar run led by the tandem of Andy DeKam and Montay Lee. The tandem would have to do battle with super sophomore Justin McKinney (pictured). McKinney kept the Mustangs in the game during the late Cougar onslaught by nailing four-straight buckets down the stretch. “Justin grew up in front of our eyes tonight. He played a great all-around game, the type of game we have learned as coaches that he is capable of,” said men’s assistant Craig Covington.

DeKam and Lee’s battle with McKinney would end with the game knotted up (55-55) with 1:52 remaining. From there, the young Mustangs had two choices: fold under the pressure of an intense road crowd or fight back as a team for the win. Lone senior Nick Roberts took the game into his hands when he curled around a screen to the wing for a go ahead 3-point shot with only seconds remaining. Sophomore Eric Johnson came up with a huge block that led to a Darius Kellar free throw as the Mustangs sealed the 61-59 victory at Kuyper.

McKinney led the Mustang charge with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 steals. He was was followed by Marcus Hopkins with 11 points (all in the first half). Nick Roberts tallied 10 important points on the night, none more important than his heroic 3-pointer in the final minute of play.

01-31-09 Mustangs Cruise to 119-66 Win

DETROIT, MI--The Mustangs would play host to the Great Lakes Christian hoops squad on Saturday in game two of a Mustang doubleheader. The Mustangs would be facing a fimilar foe in the Great Lakes Christian Crusaders. The Mustangs rolled to a 132-67 drubbing of the Crusaders on the road earlier this season.

The 132-67 victory looked like it was going to be duplicated early on as the Mustangs raced out to a quick 12-0 lead after the first two minutes of play. A Crusader timeout would settle the visiting team down as they would finally drop in their first points of the contest. The Mustangs showed great poise by not taking the Crusaders lightly and took care of business in the first half.

Senior Nick Roberts connected 8-of-12 shooting, including two triples, on his way to a 20-point first half effort. Three other Mustangs joined the double-digit scoring column by halftime as they Mustangs took a commanding 71-33 lead into the break.

The Mustangs came out strong once again in the second half and displayed their athleticism. Justin McKinney threw down a thunderous dunk by way of a Darius Kellar alley-oop. Kellar continued to set his teammates up as he dished out a season-high 10 assists on the afternoon. The Mustangs would roll to a 119-66 win behind a stellar effort from Kellar, McKinney, and the rest of the Mustangs.

Nick Roberts (pictured) continued his hot shooting as he nailed three 3-pointers in a row. Roberts would score 29 in limited minutes before he was replaced due to the large lead. The 29 points scored by Roberts is a season-high for any Mustang.

Sophomore Eric Johnson also had an excellent game. Johnson dominated down low on his way to a 21 point-10 rebound effort. Johnson would also add four steals and two blocks. Fellow sophomore Justin McKinney chipped in with a double-double of his own (15 points and 10 rebounds). Fearless freshmen Darius Kellar (10 assists) and Marcus Hopkins (20 points) showcased their talent in the backcourt in the win as well.

Nick Roberts, Sr, F