This story was written by NMU Sports Information.
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WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. – Graduate forward Dylan Kuehl scored a career-high 35 points as the Northern Michigan men's basketball team defeated the Northern State Wolves on Friday night at the Justagame Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells.
After a slow offensive start to the night for the Green and Gold, Kuehl stepped up in a big way, scoring 18 first-half points, 12 of which came in the final five minutes, to turn a deficit into a 31-26 halftime lead. Needing to fend off a Northern State comeback attempt in the second half, he added 17 more points to build a cushion and finish strong, consistently providing the spark NMU needed at critical moments.
His 35-point outburst came on an efficient 13-22 (59.1%) shooting performance, including a 7-8 (87.5%) mark from the charity stripe. He also led the Wildcats with five assists and added five rebounds, delivering one of the most complete games of his NMU career.
Jackson Dudek followed with 14 points and Cal Klesmit added 13 more as the Wildcats' supporting cast helped sustain momentum throughout both halves.
In total, NMU put up 22 more shots (69-47) than the Wolves. The defense was the driving force behind that margin, as the Wildcats forced Northern State into 21 turnovers and turned those into a remarkable 32 points, compared to just three for NSU. Klesmit led the efforts with three of NMU's nine steals.
The Wildcats also dominated the offensive glass, 13-5, creating extended possessions and further feeding their offensive rhythm. NMU held the overall rebound advantage 36-30. It was a true team effort attacking the glass, as all eight 'Cats recorded at least three boards, but no one had more than five.
The win moves the Wildcats to 2-1 on the young season while they also picked up their first victory over Northern State in program history (1-1).
