Marquette, Mich. – Northern Michigan used a 59-point second half to flip around a five point deficit at the half to knock off Minnesota Crookston at home on Thursday in men's basketball action.
 
The Golden Eagles fall to 0-3 on the season, while NMU improves to 3-0.
 
The first half would be a good one for Minnesota Crookston. Minnesota Crookston would go on a mini 5-0 run, helped by a Xzavier Jones (Jr., G, Milwaukee, Wis.) layup and Blaize Sagna (So., G, London, England) three.
 
The score would be tied at 17, but the Golden Eagles would start to take control from that point on.
 
The Golden Eagles would extend their lead to 36-20, highlighted by a Matthew Allman (R-Jr., G/F, London, England) three and back-to-back layups from Chandler Meeks (Fr., G, Omaha, Neb.) and Marcus Thompson (R-Sr., F, Brooklyn, N.Y.).
 
A Ron Kirk, Jr. (So., G, Milwaukee, Wis.) three would give the Golden Eagles a lead at 43-29, but NMU would close the half out on a 9-0 run, trailing by just four at the half.
 
The second half would turn out to be wild. A Dezmond Washington (Jr., G/F, Morrilton, Ark.) layup would give the Golden Eagles a 65-63 lead with 11 minutes left in the game.
 
NMU would start to take control with a 76-67 lead, but another Sagna three would cut the lead to just six.
 
NMU would prove to be too much down the stretch for the 97-81 victory.
 
Washington finished with a career-high 20 points and nine rebounds, while Jones had a nice return to Northern Michigan, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds, his first double-double as a Golden Eagle. Sagna finished with 13 points on 4-6 shooting from the field. Kirk, Jr., finished with eight points, while Meeks, Thompson and Rambo Badyal (Sr., G, Kelowna, British Columbia) each finished with six points.
 
The Golden Eagles outshot the Wildcats and outrebounded their opponents, but turned the ball over 19 times, which turned into 24 points for NMU.
 
Minnesota Crookston is back in action tomorrow evening at Michigan Tech. Tip-off is set for 5 P.M.