Story, photo courtesy of NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO button to hear Coach Matt Majkrzak's post-game interview with RRN's Casey Ford. Click the VIDEO buttons to watch highlights from the win.
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan men's basketball team outscored the Concordia Wisconsin Falcons 55-10 in the first half en route to an 87-35 victory on Thursday night at Vandament Arena.
To say the first half was one of the most dominant in program history would be an understatement. Northern blitzed Concordia from the opening tip — and owned the glass while doing it — unleashing runs of 9-0, 17-0, 9-0, and 13-0 to surge to a 55-10 halftime lead.
The Wildcats overwhelmed every facet of the game across the opening 20 minutes, controlling the boards 32-5, including 15-1 on the offensive glass, and turning that into 19 second-chance points. NMU's defensive pressure forced 11 turnovers as the Wildcats shot 19-37 overall and 10-18 from three.
Northern finished the game with a commanding 57-14 rebounding edge, one of the most lopsided margins in program history. That included a 27-2 advantage in offensive rebounds, producing 38 second-chance points. Bennett Basich led the way with 10 boards.
Cal Klesmit poured in 17 of his game-high 19 points in the first half, hitting five of nine attempts from deep overall. Jackson Dudek knocked down all three of his triples in the first half and ended the night with 14 points. Dylan Kuehl followed with 13, Ross Robertson had a season-high 12, and Basich added 10.
Defensively, Northern held Concordia to just 11-42 (26.2%) shooting. The Wildcats also limited Logan Landers and Casey Verhagen — who entered the matchup averaging a combined 48.9 points per game — to only 11 points on 3-17 shooting.
Northern moves to 7-1 on the season with the victory.
