This Story was produced by NMU Sports Information

ANN ARBOR — The Northern Michigan men's basketball team continued exhibition play against the University of Michigan Friday night at the Crisler Center.
 

"We competed well in the first half," head coach Bill Sall said. "We struggled at points, but we were able to tie them in rebounds. We are excited to move on to the regular season."
 

The Wildcats headed into halftime trailing, 36-26, led by strong first half performances by Jordan Perez and Naba Echols, who posted nine and 13 points respectively. Coming out of the half, the Wolverines built a 20-point lead, at 48-28, by the 15:39 mark that they would not surrender on the way to a 70-44 win.
 

Michigan ran out on a 8-0 run to start the contest. A Perez layup would get the Wildcats on the board at 15:37 in the first half.
 

The Wildcats would find some offense and begin a six-point run to cut the Wolverine lead to four with 7:53 remaining in the first half.
 

Michigan answered with a six-point run of its own to expand its lead once again. Echols would end the run for the Wildcats at the 4:26 mark, knocking down a three pointer to leave the score at 25-17.
 

Echols finished with 13 points and five rebounds. Perez also posted 13 points for the Wildcats while Marcus Hall contributed five rebounds and added five points.
 

Northern Michigan went 5 for 9 from the free throw line and and 5 for 17 from the three point arc.
 

Michigan's Caris LeVert posted a game-best 18 points and added five assists. Aubrey Dawkins recorded a game-high six rebounds and added 15 points to the Wolverines' effort.
 

The Wildcats will begin regular season play when they travel to Duluth to take on Minnesota-Duluth Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.