UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University men's basketball team down by two points at the half (29-27) shot 48.2 percent in the second half from the floor (14-29), but the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals shot a little bit better in the second 20 minutes of play by going 14-24 for 58.3 percent. In the end the Cardinals pulled out a 70-64 win over the visiting Wildcats.

With the loss the 'Cats drop to 11-15 overall on the season and 6-15 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The Cardinals improve to 8-17 and 8-13 respectively.

 Jared Benson converted a lay-up at 16:58 for a 4-2 lead. A little over two minutes later Raymont McElroy hit a jumper for an 8-6 game. McElroy's lay-up at 11:41 gave NMU a 10-9 edge. Austin Rowe's lay-up at 9:25 gave NMU another one-point edge (14-13). With the Cardinals holding onto a 10-point lead, Tyler Kazmierkoski drained a three-ball for a 26-19 game at 4:12 of the half. Marc Renelique converted a three-point play with 2:15 showing on the clock for a 29-24 game. NMU would score the final eight points of the half. 

Kyle Greene tied the game at 29-all with a lay-up about two minutes into the second half. Kazmierkoski made two of his three free throws to tie the game at 31-all with a little over 16 minutes left in the game.   With a little under 10 minutes left in the game McElroy put the 'Cats to within one at 42-41 with his lay-up. SVSU built its lead to seven points (53-46) before McElroy hit a jumper at 6:39 for a 53-48 game. After the Cardinals went up by six points Kazmierkoski made a three-pointer to cut into the lead (58-55) with 4:33 left in regulation. That was as close as the 'Cats would get on the night.

Three starters for NMU ended the game in double-figures in the scoring column. Leading the way was McElroy with 17 points as he was followed by Chris Warner's 15 and Renelique's 10. Warner also added a team-high seven rebounds. Avery Stevenson led the Cardinals with 23 points. Greg Foster ended the game with a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds.

For the game the 'Cats were 24-57 from the floor (42.1 percent). NMU only made five three-pointer on the night in 25 attempts (20 percent). In the first half NMU was 1-16 from beyond the arc (6.3 percent). The 'Cats were 11-14 from the free throw line (78.6 percent). The Cardinals won the battle off the glass with a three-rebound advantage (34-31).