MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan men's basketball team dropped a 70-59 decision to Grand Valley State Thursday night at the Berry Events Center.

The Wildcats got off to fast start with a 10-1 run highlighted by triples from Donnell Cegers and Marcus Hall. Following a five-point run by Grand Valley State, Northern Michigan held a 14-6 lead after a Cegers jumper with 13:17 to play in the half.

Grand Valley State took its first lead of the contest after a Darren Kapustka three pointer, 16-14, with 10:42 on the clock. Jordan Perez answered from downtown, stealing the lead back, 17-16. Later in the quarter, Naba Echols ran coast to coast, weaving between Laker defenders for a layup to grow the Northern Michigan lead to 22-16 with 5:27 remaining.

The Lakers chipped down the Wildcat lead and tied the game at 24 after a Luke Ryskamp triple. Northern Michigan took a 33-27 advantage into the locker room.

Coming out of the half, the teams traded baskets until the Lakers took the lead, 40-39, at the 15:35 mark. On the next possession, Echols found Terry Nash behind the three-point arc to retake the lead, 42-40. The teams found themselves deadlocked at 42, with 14:44 to play.

The Lakers went on to grow a seven-point lead, at 51-44, after a Myles Miller layup. The Wildcats battled back with a 6-1 run to cut the lead to two, at 52-50, after a Cegers layup with 6:37 remaining. Grand Valley State went on to take advantage of missed Wildcats shots to grow its largest lead of the game, 66-50, with 1:33 to play.

Echols led the Wildcats with 14 points while Perez netted 12 points and five rebounds.

With the loss, Northern Michigan falls to 6-14 (4-12 GLIAC) on the season. The Wildcats square off against Ferris State in the middle game of the basketball-hockey triple header at 1 p.m.