MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University men's basketball team struggled from the floor against the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals Saturday afternoon at the Berry Events Center. The Cardinals held a seven-point advantage at the half (27-20) and held on for the 54-43 win.

 

The Wildcats fall to 7-18 overall and 6-10 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). SV improves to 10-14 and 5-11 respectively.

 

In the first half the 'Cats were 8-27 from the floor (29.6 percent). Kyle Greene gave the 'Cats the early 3-0 with a three-pointer to begin the game. With the game tied at seven-all about six minutes into the half the 'Cats received back-to-back layups from Jake Suardini and Greene for the 11-7 lead. NMU's largest lead of the half was 20-12 at 7:21 when Kazmierkoski hit a three-pointer. SV ended the half with a 15-0 run for the lead at the intermission.

 

The Cardinals controlled the tempo in the second half. SV used a 12-4 run over the first nine plus minutes of the second half to take a 39-26 lead. The Cardinals would hold a double-digit lead until 2:48 when Ryan Reichel made a layup to cut the lead to 44-36.  Over minute later Kazmierkoski scored two points on a layup to have NMU within five points (46-41). SV made its free throws down the stretch for the win.

 

Suardini and Kazmierkoski led NMU with 13 points each. Greene added a team-high nine rebounds. Mario Mackey and Dante Williams led SV with 16 points each. 

 

For the game the 'Cats were 18-57 from the floor (31.6 percent). NMU made six of its 26 three-point attempts (23.1 percent). For the 40 minutes of action, NMU only made one trip to the free throw line and sank the throw. The Cardinals out-rebounded the 'Cats by 11 rebounds (39-28).

 

The 'Cats have two more games left in the regular season. First up is a mid-week encounter at Michigan Tech on Wednesday (Feb. 20). NMU will then face Lake Superior State on Saturday (Feb. 23) at 1 p.m. for the finale.