FINDLAY, Ohio — Jordan Perez posted a career-high 28 points, but Findlay was able to outlast the Northern Michigan men's basketball team Saturday afternoon at Croy Gymnasium, posting a 73-71 victory.

The Wildcats rallied from a 16-point deficit to tie the Oilers, 59-59, with 6:27 remaining in regulation and then took their first lead of the game on their next possession on the strength of a Perez layup. But the Oilers thwarted the Northern Michigan comeback attempt by outscoring the Wildcats by a slim 14-10 margin the rest of the way.

In the first half, Findlay built a 25-10 lead by the 10:22 mark on the strength of a 10-0 run. The Wildcats regrouped, pulling back within five with 5:09 left on the clock by going on a 9-4 run. But that was a close as they would get in the half, as the Oilers outscored them the rest of the way, 14-5, to take a 43-29 advantage into halftime.

Findlay's largest lead of the game, a 16-point advantage, came at 19:46 of the second half after John Staley made a layup on his team's first possession. But, from that point on, it would be all Northern Michigan.

The Wildcats tied the game on the strength of a 30-14 run, during which Perez notched 12 of his points. In that run, Alex Mustert added seven points, and Brett Branstrom gave Northern Michigan plenty of momentum with a dunk.

Perez has only breached the 20-point plateau two other times: Jan. 15, 2015 against Ferris State (21) and Feb. 12, 2015 against Saginaw Valley State (23).

Mustert was the other Wildcat to reach the double figures, posting 15 points. He finished one rebound short of completing the double-double with a game-high nine.

Northern Michigan went 7 for 18 beyond the arc and 8 for 14 at the line. The Wildcats held a 42-27 advantage in rebounds.

Northern Michigan, which fell to 2-5 (1-3 GLIAC) with its loss, returns to the court Dec. 19, hosting Grace Bible (Mich.) at 3 p.m.