MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan men's basketball team took down Hillsdale, 70-64, Saturday afternoon at the Berry Events Center.

Hillsdale jumped out to a quick 10-3 lead with 15:22 to play. Naba Echols answered, connecting from three on back-to-back possessions to pull the Wildcats within one, 10-9. After the teams traded baskets, great ball movement from the Northern Michigan offense set up a Marcus Hall three pointer, giving the Wildcats their first lead of the game, at 14-13, with 11:45 to play.

Hillsdale took a 23-20 lead following a Kyle Cooper jump shot. Isaiah Johnson answered with a three to deadlock the game at 23 with 5:13 on the clock. The Chargers responded with a 5-0 run to grow a 28-23 edge, but Northern Michigan went a 7-2 run to close the half, highlighted by an Echols three pointer with 28 seconds to play that gave the Wildcats a 30-29 lead heading into the break.

Northern Michigan came out of the locker room, running the floor to build a 42-34 lead after Kenny Williams was able to tip in a missed Echols jump shot. The Chargers cut the lead down to four, 42-38, after a Nate Neveau layup.

Northern Michigan answered by growing its largest lead of the game after Alex Mustert knocked down a jump shot to make it 57-47 with 6:55 to play. Hillsdale battled all the way back, cutting the lead to one, at 63-62, with 1:40 to play. Johnson was able to convert a Nash pass into a clutch layup to give the Wildcats a three point, 65-62, edge with 1:18 to play.

Lowry Stedman cut the lead to one, 65-64, for the Chargers with one minute to play in the contest. Nash then sank two free throws to give Northern Michigan a 67-64 lead with 35 seconds to play. The Wildcat defense closed out the game after Donnell Cegers was able to intercept a Hillsdale pass. Following the Hillsdale turnover, a pair of Echols free throws put the Wildcats up, 70-64, with nine seconds remaining to seal the win.

Echols posted a team-high 22 points while Nash added 13 points. Williams posted a team-best nine rebounds and contributed four points.

With the win, Northern Michigan moves to 5-11 (3-9 GLIAC). The Wildcats return to the floor at Lake Superior State Thursday with tipoff slated for 7:30 p.m.