BOUNCING BACK: Wildcats Top SW Minnesota St.

These stories were written by NMU Sports Information

SATURDAY GAME RECAP

DULUTH, Minn. – The Northern Michigan University Men's Basketball team took on Southwest Minnesota State University Saturday afternoon and used a 14 point run to open the second half on their way to a 72-63 win over the Mustangs.

Senior Marcus Matelski (Boyne Falls, Mich.) paced the offense with a career high 18 points. Senior Sam Taylor (Chicago, Ill.) added 11 points.

Junior Alec Fruin (Beloit, Wis.) and sophomore Dolapo Olayinka (Chicago, Ill.) chipped in with nine points each. Fruin also posted career highs with 10 rebounds and seven assists.

As a team, the Wildcats shot 52% from behind the three point line, hitting 11 threes on the day.

Senior Myles Howard (Chicago, Ill.) got things started with a layup, then freshman Noah Parcher (La Crosse, Wis.) hit a three but the Mustangs were able to keep it tied at 5-5 two minutes in. Two minutes later, SMSU held a 10-5 lead until Fruin made a layup, and Matelski made a three to tie it again, 10-10 at the 14:33 mark.

Taylor then answered a Mustang basket with a three, and sophomore Troy Summers (Grayling, Mich.) made two free throws in response to SMSU scores which gave the Wildcats a 15-14 lead with 12:38 to go in the half.

The Mustangs pulled ahead 20-15 but Parcher sank a free throw followed by a Myles jumper which made it 20-18 with eight minutes left. SMSU followed with another run before Olayinka stopped it with a layup with 4:18 to play, moving the score to a 23-20 Mustang lead.

The teams continued to trade baskets through the remaining four minutes with Olayinka hitting a three with eight seconds left in the half and the Mustangs answering five seconds later to make the score 30-30 at the half.

To start the second half, Matelski hit back to back threes. Parcher then added a layup before a third Matelski three. Fruin then followed with his own three to give NMU a 44-30 lead less than four minutes into the half.

After a Mustang three, Olayinka sank two free throws but SMSU cut into the lead, 46-37. The teams continued to trade points with SMSU able to cut the lead down to 54-49 with 8:51 to go.

The Mustangs were able to cut the lead down to eight points but never got closer as the Wildcats powered to a 72-63 victory.

The Wildcats are now 2-2 on the season while SMSU falls to 1-3. NMU enjoys time away from action before they head to Alaska for the Seawolf Thanksgiving Classic, played at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

FRIDAY'S GAME RECAP

DULUTH, Minn. – Northern Michigan University Men's Basketball played an even first half Friday night when they visited the University of Minnesota Duluth, but were unable to take victory as the Bulldogs captured an 84-62 win.

Senior Marcus Matelski (Boyne Falls, Mich.) led the NMU offense with 12 points, hitting four three pointers. Redshirt Freshman Ben Wolf (Naperville, Ill.) added 11 points.

Junior Alec Fruin (Beloit, Wis.) tallied nine points and six rebounds while sophomore Dolapo Olayinka (Chicago, Ill.) chipped in with seven points. Sophomore Troy Summers (Grayling, Mich.) led the team with seven rebounds and aided the effort with six points.

NMU finished the game with 15 assists, getting three each from Fruin and Matelski to pace the Wildcats.

Wolf got the game started with a basket then after a Bulldog three, NMU rallied with a 7-0 run to take a 10-3 lead as Senior Myles Howard (Chicago, Ill.) made a layup then Matelski hit back to back threes.

Duluth tied the score but NMU responded with five points from Fruin and a layup by Summers to take a 17-10 lead. The teams continued to trade points but a basket at the 6:16 mark gave Duluth their first lead, 22-21.

Freshman Noah Parcher (La Crosse, Wis.) hit a three to give the Wildcats back the lead with less than six minutes to play but the hosts tied the score, 24-24, with 4:37 left in the half. Fruin hit a jumper before Matelski sank another three to answer a short Duluth run, making the score 30-29,

After Duluth made a free throw, Fruin made a jumper with 44 seconds left in the half to send the game into a 31-31 tie at the break.

In the second half, MCK built a double figure lead which ultimately became a 69-46 victory for hosts.

The Bulldogs scored first in the second half but Wolf made the score 33-33 with a dunk. He then answered a short Duluth run with a layup to make it 38-35. However, the hosts answered with an extended run before senior Sam Taylor (Chicago, Ill.) made a three to make it 52-38.

Throughout the second half, Duluth was able to extend their lead on their way to a 84-62 victory.