MARQUETTE, MICH. - The Northern Michigan University men's basketball team took on Lake Superior State University, continuing their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play, on Saturday, Dec. 11.

The Wildcats fell to the Lakers, 74-72, in a closely contested matchup.

STAT LEADERS
Freshman Brian Parzych had an impressive outing for the 'Cats, tallying 20 points, three rebounds and two assists over the course of the game. Parzych led NMU in points and field goal percentage, at 88 percent.

Junior transfer Justin Brookens was a key scorer for Northern, knocking down four-for-eight from behind the three-point line, while dishing out an assist in the process. Brookens accumulated an impressive 16 points, the second most for the 'Cats.

Senior Max Bjorklund was a critical asset for the Wildcats racking up nine points on three-for-seven shooting, while being a defensive presence grabbing down three boards.

Sophomore Sam Schultz was dominant on both ends of the court racking up eight points while shooting 50 percent from the field and dishing out six assists, the most for the 'Cats. Schultz also had five rebounds in the game, two coming from the offensive zone.

Junior Justin Kuehl led the Wildcats in total rebounds at six, with five of those being defensive, while also shooting an impressive 50 percent from the field.

FIRST HALF
The first half saw the Lakers get off to a quick lead early on, getting up 12-8 in the first five minutes of the game. It did not take NMU long to catch up and the two teams would be neck and neck for the rest of the first half.

The Wildcats shot a perfect 100 percent from the charity stripe, while also shooting 50 percent from the field.

Parzych was a shot facilitator shooting six-for-seven during the first half and tallying up 14 points in the process. The freshman guard also had two defensive rebounds and a steal in the first half.

Kuehl was dominant on the glass, leading the Wildcats in rebounds at five while also shooting 66 percent from the field, over the course of the half.

Brookens played a pivotal role in the half, tallying eight points on six shots while also grabbing down one board and dishing out an assist.

Junior Ben Wolf had a stellar first half, going a perfect 100 percent from the charity stripe while also grabbing down four boards.

Behind a clutch shot from Schultz, the Wildcats found themselves up at the half, 39-37, against the Lakers.

SECOND HALF
The second half continued to be a tightly contested game that saw neither team able to pull away from one another.

The 'Cats led the half in field goal percentage, shooting 50 percent from the field and an impressive 57 percent from three-point land.

Brookens continued to be dominant offensively, tallying up eight more points during the second half.

After being held scoreless in the first half, Bjorklund tallied up nine points for the 'Cats while shooting a stellar 66 percent from behind the arc. The senior guard also grabbed down two boards and dished out two assists in the half.

Junior Jack Rusch was dominant on both ends of the court, grabbing down three rebounds while also shooting 100 percent from the free throw line and 66 percent from the field. Rusch finished the game with six points on three attempts.

In a heartbreaking final minute of play, Northern fell to LSSU, 74-72.

UP NEXT
The Wildcats drop to 3-7 on the season while Lake State moves to 6-2.
The 'Cats are set to face off against the Indianapolis Greyhounds in an out of conference matchup, next Sunday, Dec.19, at 1 p.m. in the Berry Events Center.