November 26, 2002
Men's Basketball
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cardinals Earn First Win of Young Season

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball team picked up its first victory of the season Tuesday (November 26) with an 88-64 verdict over Finlandia University. The Cardinals held a 46-23 lead going into the half and didn't look back.
     Sophomore Anthony Parker (Muskegon, Mich./Mona Shores HS) led the Cardinals with a game-high 25 points in only 23 minutes of play. Parker shot 10-14 from the floor and 1-1 from three-point range. Also adding to the Cardinal offensive assault with eleven points each were junior Maurice Brown (Detroit, Mich./Cody HS) and senior Cameron Nichols (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech HS). Brown also recorded a game-high eleven rebounds to give him his second double-double of the season.
     Finlandia placed three players in double figures, with Mike O'Donnell leading the way with team-highs of 15 points and nine rebounds. Also reaching double digits in points were Mark Nolan and Nick Forgette, recording eleven and ten points respectively.
     The Cardinals out shot the Lions 46.7% to 43.4% from the field, as well as making seven more free throws. The Lions could not overcome 20 turnovers, compared to only twelve from the Cardinals, or the 51-27 rebound disparity in favor of the Cardinals. SVSU head coach Dean Lockwood was able to play eleven players for at least ten minutes each in the rout.
     SVSU moves to 1-2 on the young season, while Finlandia drops to 2-5. The Cardinals return to action Wednesday (November 27) at 7:30p.m. against Rochester College in James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena.

Contact: Jeff Bacholzky (989) 964-4053

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