CROOKSTON, Minn.  – The University of Minnesota, Crookston men's basketball team will continue non-conference play Thursday as they head to Hancock, Mich., to face Finlandia University at 6 p.m. CST at Paavo Nurmi Center. The Golden Eagles come into the game with a 1-0 record after defeating Presentation College last Friday.  Finlandia enters Thursday with a mark of 0-0 as Thursday marks their regular-season opener. The Lions fell to Michigan Tech University 117-53 Nov. 7 in an exhibition contest.

In last week's opening game against Presentation, the Golden Eagles were led by four players who tallied double-figure points. Junior college transfer Brandon Burns (Jr., F, Baton Rouge, La.) led all scorers with 18 points. James Sparkman (R-Jr., F, Ypsilanti, Mich.) added 16 points in his first game for the Golden Eagles after sitting out with a redshirt last season. Senior point guard Almir Krdzalic (G, Sioux Falls, S.D.) put in 16 points while fellow senior Justin Rake (G, Petal, Miss.) added 13.

The Finlandia Lions went 10-13 last season. They are led by 6-5 senior forward Jonathan Moore, who averaged 15.0 points and 6.1 rebounds last season. Finlandia also returns two other starters from last season. Anthony Grandberry, a 6-0 senior guard, returns after averaging 13.3 points per game last year while 6-0 junior guard Keith Arnold also returns to the fray. Arnold averaged 11.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game a season ago.

UMC last played Finlandia during the 2010-11 season and picked up an 84-58 win in the opening game of the season in Hancock, Mich.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).