NMU Men's Basketball Drops GLIAC Opener, 53-50

This story was written by NMU Sports Information

MARQUETTE---Northern Michigan University men's basketball team (3-4, 0-1 GLIAC) fell to Northwood University (5-2, 1-0 GLIAC) Thursday night in their home-opener, 53-50.

After jumping out to an early 7-0 start, the Timberwolves rallied to lead 26-22 at the half. The Wildcats fought back in the second, cutting the lead to one just under three minutes into the second period. The two teams jockeyed baskets, trading points until the clock read 6:19 to play.

The Timberwolves ultimately gained the edge in the contest, outscoring the Wildcats 53-50 to hand NMU their first conference loss of the season.

Senior Sam Taylor (Chicago, Ill.) lead the Wildcats with a total of 10 points, 3 assists, and 9 rebounds.

Behind him R-Sophomore Ben Wolf (Naperville, Ill.) and Freshman Noah Parcher (La Crosse, Wis.) both contributed 9 total points.

Senior Myles Howard (Chicago, Ill.) pitched in 9 rebounds as well.

Taylor and Howard both led the team in steals, recording two a piece to help keep the Wildcats in the game late.

Northwood got 12 points from Trey McBride and ten rebounds from Ja'Kaivien Lewis.

NMU made just three of 23 three-point field goal attempts.

Sophomore Ben Wolf (Naperville, Ill.) started the half off with a jump shot outside the paint. Wolf then made a layup to keep the Wildcats ahead. Behind him Senior Marcus Matelski (Boyne Falls, Mich.) notched a three-pointer, with an assist from Fruina.

Northwood got their basket of the game after four minutes had elapsed in the game, halting the Wildcats' 7-0 run.

The Timberwolves continued their offensive pressure with another three but Senior Myles Howard (Chicago, Ill.) responded with a jumpshot to make the score 9-5 with 13:42 left in the half.

The Wildcats added a few more baskets before Northwood caught up, cutting the lead to one with 6:53 to go in the half. They then took the 19-17 lead with a three-pointer from McBride for their first lead of the game.

The Wildcats bounced back with two minutes left in the half to close the gap to 19-24, however they came just shy of regaining the lead and entered the halftime break trailing, 22-26.

Taylor began the second half off with a layup to cut the Timberwolves' lead to two. The teams continued to battle while Northwood continued to hold the narrow lead.

Taylor tied the Wildcats up with another layup to make the score 35-35 nearly nine minutes into the second half.

Northern then regained their lead when Wolf dunked the ball to electrify the crowd. The two teams then juggled the lead, with both teams trading baskets before the Wildcats eventually held a 43-42 lead.

A pair of free throws would put the Timberwolves back on top at 6:19 left, a lead they would not surrender again, despite the Wildcats' best efforts.

With 13 seconds to play, Taylor sunk his team-leading fifth field goal of the game to spark the Wildcats offense, trailing just two points but a free throw chance shortly after sealed the deal for the Timberwolves' 53-50 victory at the Berry Events Center Thursday evening.

The men return to the Berry Events Center on Saturday, December 7 when they host Saginaw Valley State University at 1 p.m. That game will be followed by the women taking on the Cardinals at 3 p.m. in the second game of the double header.