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SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University Men's basketball team extended their winning streak to six games at Lake Superior State on Thursday (Feb. 26), picking up a monumental 102-69 victory.

The Green and Gold asserted themselves from three-point land early and often, connecting on 17 triples throughout the bout. It was one shy of tying the program record.

 Northern improved to 15-11 on the campaign and 11-8 in the GLIAC.

STAT LEADERS

• NMU connected on 17 triples in the contest, one shy of tying the program record set in 2006-07 (vs. UW-Stout).
• John Kerr (22), Max Bjorklund (21), and Nick Wagner (20) all scored 20+ for NMU. 
• John Kerr had a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds. 
• Ben Wolf also registered a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. 
• Max Bjorklund led the team with six assists while Brian Parzych added four off the bench. 
• Eight Wildcats hit a three-pointer, led by Bjorklund with six and Wagner with five.  

FIRST HALF
John Kerr registered the game's first points, banking in a turnaround in the low post. 

A couple minutes later, Kerr found Nick Wagner cutting to the corner. Wagner launched a triple attempt and after a half dozen bounces on the rim, the ball settled through the net for a 7-1 NMU lead. 

Max Bjorklund connected on a triple of his own next trip down the floor, leading to a LSSU timeout. 10-1 'Cats less than four minutes in. 

Bjorklund continued with the hot hand, swishing home a smooth step back triple from the top of the key, giving him an early eight points. 

John Kerr converted on an old-fashioned and-one as Northern maintained an early double digit lead at 16-6. 

Kerr then hit a fadeaway in the paint followed by another NMU triple on the next possession. NMU led 21-6 seven minutes into the game. 

Nick Wagner found his second triple from five feet behind the arc. NMU led 26-11 nearing the halfway point of the first half. 

Justin Brookens got going with back-to-back baskets to give NMU their largest edge at 33-15.

Max Bjorklund reached a dozen points on the 'Cats seventh triple, pushing the lead to 38-17 with 6:34 to go. 

The party continued downtown, as Wagner confidently secured his third triple with a hand in the face. 

Lake Superior State started to find their offense, cutting the deficit back to 15 at 42-27 with 3:41 left, resulting in a timeout from the Wildcats bench. 

John Kerr got an all-important hoop before the buzzer, halting a 13-4 run from LSSU. 

It was NMU 48-34 at the break. John Kerr (13) and Max Bjorklund (12) crossed double figures. The Green and Gold were 17-34 (50%) from the floor. 


SECOND HALF
LSSU scored the first seven points of the half to cut it to seven. Nick Wagner would end that run with his fourth triple of the night, getting it back to ten at 51-41 with 17 minutes to go. 

Another couple baskets from the Lakers cut it to six, but Brian Parzych hit yet another important three for NMU to stave off the Lakers momentum. 

NMU would then go on an 8-0 run behind six points and an assist from Nick Wagner. The Wildcats led 62-47 six minutes into the half. 

Carson Smith got into the scoring column, hitting a three of his own. NMU led 73-57 halfway through the second half. 

Just as the Lakers looked to decrease their deficit, Max Bjorklund hit from downtown. NMU led 76-62 with just under eight to play.

Carson Smith continued to make a mark off the bench, hitting on 4-4 attempts at the charity stripe to get the 'Cats lead back to twenty with six minutes left.

Ben Wolf continued his impressive night, getting two more buckets late. Max Bjorklund hit another three-ball and NMU led 96-67 with just over two minutes left. 

Jack Rusch entered the contest and joined in on the fun, hitting a triple of his own. 

One more Wildcat would join in, as  Tre Harvey hit a three to cross the 100-point plateau for the third time this season. 

The Wildcats would go on to win, 102-69. 


UP NEXT
The Wildcats will head to Big Rapids to conclude the regular season as they'll take on the Ferris State Bulldogs on Saturday (Feb. 26). Tip-off is schedule for 3 p.m.