Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston outrebounded the Wildcats of Wayne State College by 20, which helped them defeat the Wildcats 75-59 on Friday night in Crookston. Leonard Dixon (R-Jr., F, Demascus, Ore.) and Nathaniel Powell (R-So., C, Nottingham, England) each had double-doubles on the night.
 
With the win, the Golden Eagles have now won three out of their last four games and improve to 7-13 overall (4-10 NSIC). The Wildcats fall to 10-8 (7-5 NSIC).
 
 The Golden Eagles got off to a great start, with back-to-back makes from deep from Uzo Dibiamaka (R-So., G, Adelaide, Australia) and Dixon to go up 6-0 early on in the game.
 
Alec Millinder would bury a three to cut the lead to 6-3, but Jerome Mabry (R-So., G, Milwaukee, Wis.) and Dixon would score buckets to extend the lead to 10-3.
 
Minnesota Crookston would extend their lead to 20-10, following buckets from Marcus Thompson (R-Jr., F, Brooklyn, NY), Ron Kirk, Jr. (Fr., G, Milwaukee, Wis.) and Rambo Badyal (Jr., G, Kelowna, British Columbia) to make it 20-10 midway through the first half.
 
WSC would cut the lead to 20-17, but the Golden Eagles would extend their lead to 31-19 and would lead by seven heading into the halftime break.
 
The Golden Eagles would extend their lead to 14, following a pair of jumpers from Dixon, who would score a game-high 20 points on the night.
 
Thompson would bring the energy all night and that included midway through the second half where he finished through contact to earn the and-one opportunity, which he would finish.
 
The Wildcats would try to make a comeback, but for every call they had, the Golden Eagles would have an answer.
 
The Wildcats would cut the lead to just nine with 4:39 remaining, but Dibiamaka would score his only three points of the half on a huge shot through contact, where he would get three the old-fashioned way.
 
Two minutes later, Dixon would rock the rim sending Lysaker Gymnasium into a flurry and all but putting the nail in the coffin in the game.
 
The Golden Eagles would close out the victory, 75-59.
 
Minnesota Crookston had a whopping five scorers in double-figures, led by Dixon's 20 on 9-16 shooting from the field. Powell and Thompson finished with 12 and 11, respectively, while Dibiamaka and Zach Westphal (R-Sr., G, West Fargo, N.D.) each finished with 10 in the game.
 
Dixon finished with 13 rebounds, tying his career-high, while Powell finished with 11 rebounds, a career-high. It was also the first double-double of Powell's young collegiate career. The 20 rebound differential was the largest in a game this season for the Golden Eagles.
 
Minnesota Crookston will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at 3:30, as they welcome in No. 14/17 Augustana from Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium.