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OT HEARTBREAK: 'Cats Fall To Grand Valley State
 This story was written by NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO button to hear post-game comments from Coach Matt Majkrzak. MARQUETTE, Mich. - In what was yet another thriller in a season seemingly filled with them, the Northern Michigan men's basketball team (20-9, 13-4) came up short to the Grand Valley State Lakers (13-14, 10-7), dropping a 106-99 decision in double overtime late into Thursday night at the Berry Events Center. The Lakers held the lead for nearly 80% of the contest, but a clutch jump shot from Max Weisbrod with 11 seconds left sent the game to an extra session all tied at 81. Five free throws along with a Dylan Kuehl dunk gave NMU a 88-81 lead just a minute into the five-minute OT, but three Lakers triples brought them back and sent the game to a second overtime session at 92's. The Lakers scored the first four of the second extra frame, Weisbrod fouled out, and the Wildcats simply ran out of gas as GVSU controlled the second overtime for a 106-99 win. In his return from injury, Weisbrod led NMU with 27 points, going 13-13 from the charity stripe. That unblemished mark in as many attempts puts him in a tie for second all-time for most made FT's in a game without a miss. Five other 'Cats were in double figures including Sam Schultz who recorded his ninth double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds. GVSU was led by Britain Harris (24) and Marius Grazulis (22). Just as the Lakers got back into the game in OT with the three ball, they started the game the same way. Starting 4-5 from deep and hitting seven threes in the first half, the Lakers jumped on NMU early and led by double digits not even eight minutes into the night. NMU battled right back to pull within three, but as was the case seemingly all night, GV puched right back with three's to go back up 12, 32-20, with seven minutes on the first half clock. Grand Valley led 48-35 after the first half, but Northern came out firing in the second, and closed its deficit to 55-51 with 13:40 to play. The Lakers pushed the lead right back to eight, NMU once again brought it to four, and the Lakers responded by extending its lead right back up to nine with under 10 minutes to go in regulation. The Green and Gold finally made it a one possession game with 2:40 left after a Kuehl layup. With under a minute to go and down two, a controversial call didn't go NMU's way, but the infamous "ball don't lie" saying came into full effect as the Lakers missed both free throws, leading to Weisbrod's game-tying bucket in the closing seconds of the second half. NMU stayed in the contest with a successful night at the FT line (30-37 - 81.1%), but didn't do themselves any favors from beyond the arc where they were just 7-33 (21.2%), the second worst percentage of the season. The banged up 'Cats battled and will still play for the solo GLIAC regular season title on Saturday, March 2nd at 1 p.m. from the Berry Events Center. |
