BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Northern Michigan University men's basketball (9-14, 7-10 GLIAC) upset No. 17 Ferris State on the road by a final of 73-71.  The Wildcats shot 29-49 (.592) from the field in the contest and went 7-12 (.583) from behind the three-point line in the win.  Senior forward Chavis Mattison recorded his fifth straight double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds while also adding eight assists on the night.  Sophomore guard Marcus Hall added 20 points shooting 8-10 from the field and 4-6 from beyond the arc.

After a pair of free throws from freshman guard Jordan Perez the Wildcats took an early 17-8 lead with 12:50 remaining in the half.  Northern Michigan used this early advantage to lead the entire half leading to a 40-35 halftime lead.

Northern Michigan shot 15-26 (.577) from the field in the half going 5-8 (.625) from beyond the arc.  Hall led the Wildcats with 13 points in the opening frame.

Ferris State came out of the locker rooms on a 12-2 run to take their first lead of the game at 47-42 with 16:17 left in the game.  The Bulldogs eventually pulled ahead to a 57-51 score with 11:26 remaining before NMU used a 15-4 run to retake the lead at 65-61 with 5:10 left in the contest.  The Bulldogs answered scoring seven of the next nine points to take the lead right back at 68-67 and 3:11 on the clock.

Mattison then hit a jumper with 2:52 left in the next Wildcat possession to give NMU the lead at 69-68 but Ferris once again answered scoring the next three points to take the 71-69 advantage and 1:43 remaining.  A bucket from freshman forward Alex Sorenson knotted the game at 71-71 with 1:15 left.

The Wildcats were able to force a turnover in the next Ferris possession and used it to their advantage as Mattison would lay one in to give NMU the lead at 73-71 and five seconds left.  A late desperation three-pointer from the Bulldogs went off the mark giving NMU the upset victory.

NMU would shoot 14-23 (.609) from the field in the second half led by Mattison who went 5-6 shooting in the half for 11 points.

The Wildcats were able to outrebound the Bulldogs 32-27 pulling down 24 defensive rebounds.

Perez finished the game in double-figures with 12 points.

Northern Michigan returns home next weekend hosting Saginaw Valley Thursday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Hillsdale Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m.