PAINESVILLE, Ohio – The Northern Michigan men's basketball team dropped a 63-54 decision to Lake Erie at the Jerome T. Osborne Family Athletic & Wellness Center Saturday afternoon. The game featured seven ties and eight lead changes.

The Wildcats and Storm traded baskets to tie the game at nine by the 12:41 mark. Northern Michigan then began a 9-0 run highlighted by a Jordan Perez three-point jump shot. Following the run, the Wildcats lead by nine, 18-9, at the 9:12 mark.

A Donnell Cegers jump shot gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the game, 22-12, with 7:46 remaining in the half. The Storm responded by cutting the Wildcat lead to three, 24-21, with 4:09 on the clock after back-to-back three pointers. The teams headed into halftime tied at 26.

Marcus Hall brought energy for the Wildcats in the second half, hitting a shot from downtown to give Northern Michigan a 29-26 advantage with 19:14 on the clock. Later in the half, Cegers hit a layup and a jump shot to deadlock the game at 38 with 13:22 to play. The Storm responded with a 7-0 run to open up a 45-38 lead with 12:10 remaining.

Following another Hall three pointer, the Wildcats cut the Lake Erie lead to 47-43 with 8:48 to play. Lake Erie capitalized on Northern Michigan missed shots to grow a 60-48 lead by 1:08. A Hall jump shot cut the lead to 10, 60-50, with 39 seconds on the clock.

Hall posted a game-high 16 points while Perez added 13 points and seven rebounds.

With the loss, Northern Michigan moves to 4-8 (2-6 GLIAC) on the season. The Wildcats will travel to Grand Valley State Jan. 14 with tip off set for 8 p.m.