MARQUETTE, Mich. – Northern Michigan University fell to Grand Valley State 62-53 to open the weekend in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference action.  The Wildcats opened with an early eight point lead but the Lakers pulled away late for the victory.  Northern Michigan drops to 6-9 on the season with a 4-5 GLIAC record with the loss.

A three-point basket from freshman forward Alex Sorenson gave the Wildcats an early 11-3 lead with 13:29 left in the opening half, but the Lakers then went on an 11-4 lead to take the lead for the first time in the contest with 7:34 left to play in the half.  The Laker lead would not exceed more than four points and eventually led to a half time score of 24-20.

The Lakers scored 14 points off of turnovers in the half to give them the half time lead.  Freshman guard Jordan Perez and Sorenson led NMU scoring six points each in the half.

Grand Valley slowly started to extend their lead eventually gaining their largest lead at 11 with a 51-40 score and 6:27 remaining in the game.  From there, Northern Michigan would cut the deficit down to as little as four after a Sorenson jumper that made the score 55-51 and 2:31 left to play.  Senior forward Chavis Mattison would sink a bucket at the 1:08 mark that put the score at 57-53 Lakers, before GVSU went 5-6 from the free-throw line to seal the 62-53 victory.

Northern Michigan outscored the Lakers 10-2 in second chance points and the Wildcat bench outscored the GVSU bench 23-13 in the half. 

Grand Valley State finished the game 17-38 (.447) shooting from the field with 7-10 (.700) coming from beyond the arc.

Sorenson finished the game with a team-high 15 points and six rebounds, while Mattison chipped in 12 points.  Senior guard Terry Nash assisted on six baskets in the contest.

Northern Michigan closes out the weekend against Ferris State Saturday, January 17th at 3 p.m. in the Berry Events Center.