ASHLAND, Ohio – The Northern Michigan University men's basketball team dropped a 72-56 decision at Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference foe Ashland Thursday night.

The loss pushes NMU to 3-8 overall with a 2-5 GLIAC record. Ashland improved to 4-6 with a 1-5 league mark. 

Junior forward Justin Newell led the Wildcats with 15 points followed by junior forward Chavis Mattison with 11. Mattison led NMU with eight rebounds.

NMU trailed at the half 30-28 as Newell led the Wildcats with nine first-half points. NMU was down by nine 14-5 with 12:01 left in the first half but went on an 8-0 run capped by a layup from sophomore guard Terry Nash to move within one 14-13. 

The Wildcats kept it a single-possession game through the remainder of the first half and took a 25-24 lead with 2:20 left in the stanza when sophomore forward Brandon Havercamp laid the ball in.

In the second half, NMU battled the whole way but Ashland was able to stretch its lead throughout the second half to take the win. 

"We took a little bit of a step back tonight, we certainly have to learn what it takes to win on the road," said NMU head coach Bill Sall. "We learned a lesson tonight and the good thing about this league is you get a quick turnaround."

Ashland outrebounded NMU 34-31 and outscored the Wildcats 34-14 in the paint. NMU went 19-52 (36.5) from the floor while Ashland shot 55.1 percent from the floor (27-49). Paul Honigford led Ashland with 20 points. 

Northern Michigan returns to GLIAC action at 3 p.m. Saturday at Lake Erie.