The University of Findlay men's basketball team, ranked ninth in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) poll, were defeated 83-69 by Saginaw Valley State University on Thursday, December 3 in University Center, Michigan. The loss gives the Oilers a 3-2 record on the season with a 0-1 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

The Oilers built a 9-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game but it was all Cardinals after that as Findlay dropped their conference opener.

Findlay hit 28-of-64 (43.8%) from the floor and hit 5-of-21 (23.8%) three point shots while Saginaw Valley State connected on 29-of-63 (46.0%) attempts from the floor and had their three point stroke going as they splashed 10-of-22 (45.5%) shots from long range.

The Oilers also struggled from the free throw line, hitting only 8-of-16 (50.0%) attempts from the charity stripe.

Individually, junior guard Nathan Hyde had 17 points and seven rebounds while senior guard Marcus Parker added 16 points.

Freshman forward Jack Smith added 11 points and five rebounds while sophomore forward Rob Marsden chipped in ten points and seven boards.

Keithan Jackson led the Cardinals with 22 points and 17 rebounds while Chris Webb and Avery Stephenson had 18 and 15 points respectively.

The Oilers will be back in action again on Saturday, December 5 when they face Lake Superior State University at 3:00 p.m. in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.