|
UPSET CITY: Wildcats Push Past 14-Ranked Duluth
 Click the AUDIO buttons to hear post-game comments from Coach Matt Majkrzak, and player spotlight interviews with Dylan Kuehl and Max Bjorklund. (UMD Photo) DULUTH, Min.---Max Bjorklund, Max Weisbrod, and Brian Parzych all scored 22 or more points Sunday to lead the Northern Michigan University Wildcats to a stunning 90-76 win over 14th-ranked Minnesota-Duluth Sunday afternoon. The win closed the non-conference schedule with a 5-2 record, and came after the 'Cats were disappointed in a loss at St. Cloud State the day before. And while the offense from those three was nice, NMU Coach Matt Majkrzak says defense was the key to beating this nationally-ranked team. "The strategy was just to let them go," Majkrzak told RRN Sports after the game. "Duluth is one of the best offensive teams in the country, and I thought we got them to play not like themselves. None of what they did today is what they do. They still were pretty successful offensively. But we took all of the flow and rhythm from them by the way we played defense, and that's when our defense is at its best." Minnesota-Dulith had just wrecked Michigan Tech the day before, and the 'Cats had lost a tough one at St. Cloud State. Duluth had also been dominant at home for more than a year, winning all 15 of their home games last year and the Bulldogs had won 18 straight at the Romano Center. But the Wildcats weren't impressed. Bjorklund led the way with 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting. Weisbrod added 23 off the bench, shooting 5-of-6 from the field, 4-of-5 from downtown, and he made all nine free throws. Weisbrod also led the team with 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Brian Parzych chipped in with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor. "We got outplayed in so many different areas defensively and in the little things that win you basketball games," Minnesota-Duluth Coach Justin Wieck said. "We preach toughness and details on the defensive end, but we had some bad breakdowns tonight. If we're going to have a successful year, we need to hang our hat on that end of the floor." Majkrzak says his team had to battle through adversity, as he felt that some of the calls (or non-calls) didn't go his team's way. "Nothing went our way at all," he said, choosing his words carefully. "We ad to scratch and claw and overcome, and we did. The resiliency was unbelievable." Majkrzak says this one is sweet after Saturday's seven-point loss in St. Cloud. "I think the feel we had yesterday after the game was like, just grinding everyone to just keep competing, because we were just so fustrated by yesterday," he said. "We were just determined to not feel like that again." The Bulldogs were within 76-73 with two minutes left to play, but the 'Cats responded from their big guns. A Bjorklund driving lay-up and a Parzych tough runner in the paint pushed the lead right back to 82-74 with a minute left to play, and the Wildcats sealed the game from the free throw line, were they made 18 of their 19 shots. "I've never been prouder of any team I've ever coached," Majkrzak said. "I mean, we've had bigger wins, but we've never had that, to go THAT BAD the night before, then THIS GOOD the next night. It's just unbelivable." Austin Andrews led Minnesota-Duluth (5-2) with 22 points. The Wildcats travel to Purdue Northwest to open GLIAC play Thursday night. |
