ST. PAUL, Minn. – After losing UMAC Player of the Year
Kyle Kaemingk (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) to graduation, it was fair to wonder who would step up as the "go-to guy" for the University of Northwestern Men's Basketball team in the 2023-24 season. In Thursday's season opener versus Hamline University,
Henry Fahnbulleh (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) laid claim to that role to the tune of 18 points and 13 rebounds in UNW's 62-57 win.
Japheth Nyamari (Anoka, Minn./Anoka), making his first career start, scored the first five points of the Eagles' season, which helped them jump out to a 12-4 lead. Hamline would close the gap and the two teams traded baskets for most of the first half. While Northwestern was held to just 18% shooting from three in the first half, its hopes were kept afloat thanks to some fantastic offensive rebounding from the likes of Fahnbulleh,
Elijah Burns (Grand Prairie, Texas/Roseville Area) and
Andrew Koehler (Scandia, Minn./Chisago Lakes). The Eagles went into the break trailing 35-28 thanks to a 10-3 Hamline run that saw the Pipers lead by as much as nine, but had six offensive rebounds. Three of those were courtesy of Fahnbulleh, who also had eight points.
Nyamari started the second half with a three-pointer off of another Fahnbulleh offensive rebound, and the comeback was on in the Ericksen Center. Northwestern took its first lead since the 11:11 mark in the first half when
Elijah Burns (Grand Prairie, Texas/Roseville Area) snagged an offensive board and got the putback to go with 11:03 left to give UNW a 46-44 advantage. Hamline went back up, 51-48, with 7:51 to go, but it would be the last lead the Pipers would hold in the contest.
Nyamari hit a free throw and made an acrobatic layup to tie things up, which was quickly followed by a
Caleb Hoilien (Minneapolis, Minn./Hope Academy) triple that sent the Ericksen Center into a frenzy. Hamline again answered to tie, but Fahnbulleh put Northwestern back on top, 56-54.
With 31 seconds left and Northwestern leading by one, Hoilien stepped to the free throw line and the senior captain calmly knocked down both shots to extend UNW's lead. Fahnbulleh forced a Hamline missed layup on the other end and collected his final rebound of the night. He handed the ball off to
Parker Behne (Elk River, Minn./Elk River), who saw Hoilien doing his best Randy Moss impression, throwing his right hand in the air indicate he was open streaking down the court. Hoilien and
Ryan Schneider (Longmont, Colo./Longmont) ran a quick give and go in transition, Hoilien laid it in off the glass and sealed the win by a 62-57 score.
Fahnbulleh led the way statistically for UNW, tallying 18 points, 13 rebounds (seven of which were offensive) and two assists. Hoilien chipped in with 14 points and six boards, while Nyamari added 12 points and three assists. Behne finished with a solid all-around effort, scoring six points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists. Burns added five rebounds. Northwestern was locked in on both ends of the floor in the second frame, outscoring the Pipers by a 34-22 margin.
It will be a quick turnaround for Northwestern before they are back in front of the home crowd. Old UMAC rival St. Scholastica will be in town Saturday at 3:00 PM as part of a full day of action in the Ericksen Center.
