UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. â€ÂÂ" The NMU menâ€Â™s basketball team wontheir third game in a row on Saturday afternoon and their fifth in the pastseven games. NMU defeated Saginaw Valley State University65-62 to pick up their 11th win on the season. NMU is now 11-8 overall and 5-5 in theGLIAC. SVSU is 8-13 and 2-10 in theconference.
The â€Â˜Cats started the momentum early in the game when theygot out of the gates with a 10-2 sprint in the first six minutes. NMU held the lead the rest of the half andwent into the locker room with a 32-25 lead. Neither team was really shooting the lights out in the first 20 minutesof play. NMU was at 38.5 percent (15-39)while the Cardinals were shooting at a 30 percent clip (9-30).ÂÂÂ
The â€Â˜Cats were shutout in three-pointers in the first half(0-6) and were 2-of-11 for the game (18.2 percent). SVSU was 8-of-23 from the three-point linefor the game (34.8 percent).
With less than three minutes left in regulation theCardinals took a 56-55 lead.  Billy Hillmade two free throws with a couple ticks over two minutes left in regulation totie the game at 59-all. SVSU then missedtwo jumpers and NMU had a turnover in the next minute plus of the game. Hill then made two more throws with 27seconds left in regulation to give the â€Â˜Cats the lead for good at 61-59. Antwuan Holt then made four free throws downthe stretch for the â€Â˜Cats.
Both teams shot under 40 percent for the game from thefloor. NMU was 24-of-61 for 39.3 percentwhile the Cardinals were 22-of-58 for 37.9 percent. NMU had one of their better games from thefree thrown line where they were 15-of-17 for 88.2 percent. The â€Â˜Cats dominated the boards with 44 totalrebounds as 13 were on the offensive end. SVSU had 32 rebounds for the game.
Hill had a game-high 15 points as he made all seven of hisfree throw attempts. The Volcy brothersboth had a double-double as Ricky had 12 points and 11 rebounds while Marco had11 points and 10 rebounds. Holt endedthe game with 11 points, five assists and three steals.
The â€Â˜Cats are home at the Berry Events Centerfor their next six games. The first oneon the schedule is against Grand Valley State Universityon Thursday (Feb. 5) at 7:30 p.m.
