MARQUETTE, Mich. – Earlier this season the Northern Michigan University men's basketball team stunned the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference and Division II world when they swept Grand Valley State University and Davenport on their home courts.

As GVSU rallied back late, the Wildcats held off their then-No. 11 Laker foe, posting a 75-73 victory over the team in Allendale, Michigan and snapping their undefeated streak at home.

The team followed it up by a 67-58 victory at Davenport as Myles Howard posted a double-double performance with 14 points and 12 rebounds. 

Following the weekend series against this coming weekend's opponents, first year head coach of the Wildcats, Matt Majkrzak was named the DII Coach of the Week.

The Wildcats square off against the Lakers this Thursday, February 20, at 5:30 p.m. before hosting Davenport on Saturday at 1 p.m. 

Following the Davenport game, fans are encouraged to stick around as the team will honor its three seniors, Howard, Marcus Matelski and Sam Taylor.

WEEKLY NOTES

FOLLOW ALONG

Fans can follow the action using video, live stats and audio.

Follow @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter for continued coverage throughout the week.

THURSDAY VS. GRAND VALLEY STATE

Live Stats: http://www.nmuwildcats.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/boxscores/20200220_erda.xml

Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/nmu/

Audio: https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/wupt

Game host: Jill Leonard State Farm

SATURDAY VS. DAVENPORT

Live Stats: http://www.nmuwildcats.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/boxscores/20200222_ns2a.xml

Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/nmu/

Audio: https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/wupt

Game host: First Bank

LAST TIME OUT

The men's team is coming off a tough weekend sweep at Lake Superior State and Ferris State as they now sit ninth in the GLIAC. 

On Thursday night in the Soo, the men were topped by LSSU, 82-68, despite Marcus Matelski's 17 points and the team shooting 39.2 percent from the field. They also held the edge in rebounds with 36 and scored 13 points off turnovers but were not able to catch the surging Lakers at the end of the day.

They had a good look at the end of Saturday's game when Alec Fruin launched a shot for three to tie things at the buzzer but came just short as they fell to Ferris State by a 71-68 score. Sam Taylor led the team in points downstate, boasting 21 while assisting on seen shots as well. The Wildcats shot 43.4 percent in the game as well as 27 total rebounds but were unable to come out on top at the end of their road slate.

NMU VERSUS GRAND VALLEY STATE

In 84 all-time meetings, the Wildcats trail the Lakers, 50-34-0. Last season the two teams split their regular season series with both teams taking the victory on their home court.

Earlier this season, the men upset then-No. 11 GVSU on the road as they defeated the Lakers, 75-73.

NMU VERSUS DAVENPORT

In seven all-time meetings with the Panthers, NMU leads the series 5-2, including a 1-0 record thus far in 2019-20. 

Last season the men went 1-2 against Davenport, meeting for the third time in the GLIAC semifinals where the Panthers defeated the Wildcats for a berth in the championship game.

SENIOR NIGHT

Between the men's and the women's games Saturday against Davenport, the team will recognize its three graduating members in Myles Howard, Marcus Matelski and Sam Taylor.

The all-time blocks leader, Howard set the record with his 213th career block against Parkside earlier this month. He now holds the record at 219 blocks with at least three career games left and a chance to improve that record even more. Having started 85 games for the Wildcats, and played in 102, he also owns 416 points with the green and gold while adding 92 assists to his total. 

With 582 career points, the Boyne Falls, Michigan native in Matelski has played 100 career games for the Wildcats heading into the weekend series. He's also picked up 60 career steals and has 189 rebounds to his name at NMU.

A Chicago, Illinois native, Taylor leads the men's team in points, having recently recorded his 1,000th career point. With 1,056 total points over his fourt year career at NMU, he now ranks 30th all-time in men's program history. Starting 84 of 108 career games, Taylor has also recorded 200 career assists and stolen 147 balls from his opposition.  

50 YEARS OF WOMEN'S SPORTS

Throughout the 2019-20 season, NMU will celebrate the history of Women's Sports at Northern Michigan. Fans are encouraged to contribute with their favorite and most memorable moments and athletes of NMU women's sports. Please go to THIS LINK to contribute your favorite or most memorable moment and athletes. More information on this year's celebration can be found HERE.