MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU men's basketball will be back on the Berry Events Center hardwood this week, with Grand Valley State and Davenport coming to town for a pair of GLIAC clashes. 

The Wildcats (14-3, 6-1) will put an eight-game winning streak and an undefeated 7-0 home record to the test against the Lakers of Grand Valley (9-8, 3-4) on Thursday, January 19 at 5:30 p.m. To finish off the weekend on Saturday, January 21, the Davenport Panthers (5-12, 1-6) will be in Marquette for a 1 p.m. matchup. 


Follow the Action
Follow @NMUMensBBALL and @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter for continuous updates throughout the week.  

Thursday, January 19 - vs. Grand Valley State at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets  |  Watch  |  Audio  |  Live Stats  |  Game Notes

Game Host: Vango's


Saturday, January 21 - vs. Davenport at 1 p.m.
Tickets  |  Watch  |  Audio  |  Live Stats  |  Game Notes 

Game Host: Culver's


Last Time Out
The Wildcats won their 8th straight, knocking off Michigan Tech 90-65 at the Berry. Dylan Kuehl had a 19-point, 17-rebound double-double, and Max Bjorklund had 22 points to lead the 'Cats. Max Weisbrod added 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Sam Schultz came off the bench for 10 points. 

Dylan Kuehl went 8-10 from the floor for a very efficient 19 points. He attacked the glass early and often, cleaning up 17 rebounds for a season-high mark for any Wildcat. For Max Bjorklund, he got to the FT line throughout the game and capitalized, going 11-14. 

As a unit, the Wildcats shot 32-60 (53.3%) from the floor while MTU was 22-54 (40.7%). Each team knocked in seven triples, with Northern taking 18 attempts and the Huskies shooting 21. NMU dominated in the assist column, 17-5. The 'Cats also commanded the paint, outscoring MTU 50-22 down low. 


Cat Attack
The Wildcats are off to a 14-3 (6-1 GLIAC) start to the season and currently sit in first place in the GLIAC. Northern is averaging 83.6 PPG while holding the opposition to a mark of 71.0 PPG.

For as young as the 'Cats are, they have the lowest turnover clip per game in the GLIAC at 10.1. That is the 7th lowest turnover average in Division II. The Wildcats also do a good job cleaning up the glass, averaging 7.2 more rebounds per game than their competition. 

NMU is led by Max Bjorklund, scoring 20.3 per contest, the best mark in the GLIAC. Brian Parzych is second in scoring at 14.8 PPG. Freshman Dylan Kuehl is averaging 12.5 PPG and leads the team with 5.9 RPG. His 62.6 FG% is tops in the GLIAC and the 11th-best mark throughout DII hoops. Max Weisbrod is also averaging double figures at 11.3 PPG.  


In the Polls
The Wildcats enter the week receiving votes in the latest editions of the NABC and D2SIDA national polls. NMU currently sits in 4th place in the Midwest regional poll behind Hillsdale (16-1), Indianapolis (14-2), and Missouri-St. Louis (14-2). 


Bjorklund on Bevo Francis Watch List
Senior guard Max Bjorklund has been named to the Top 100 Watch List for the Bevo Francis Award, announced by Small College Basketball and the National Awards Committee. 

The Clarence "Bevo" Francis Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball. Considerations will be season statistics and individual achievements, awards, personal character, and team achievements.  This is an incredibly prestigious award, as this award will only be given to one player within Small College Basketball per season.

This season, Bjorklund is averaging 20.3 PPG, good for top-30 in the country and the best in the GLIAC. He has helped lead the Wildcats to one of the best starts in program history with a 14-3 record. NMU is currently on an eight-game winning streak. 

The Top 50 Watch List will be released on February 15th.
 

Coach Majkrzak Interview



Scouting Grand Valley State
Under new leadership with first-year head coach Cornell Mann, the Lakers enter Thursday's contest with a 9-8 overall mark and 3-4 in conference battles. GVSU averages 75.2 PPG while allowing 70.5. 

Losing each of their top-5 scorers from a season ago in Jake Van Tubbergen (17.2), Christian Negron (11.5), Jordan Harris (10.7), Isaac Gassman (10.2), and Deleon Brown (9.8), GVSU has had to revamp their offense for this season. Marius Grazulis leads the team with 11.1 PPG and 5.8 RPG while Chinedu Kingsley Okanu averages 10.0 PPG. 


Scouting Davenport
The Panthers will face Michigan Tech on Thursday before making the trip to Marquette for Saturday's contest. DU is 5-12 overall and 1-6 in GLIAC games, with the lone win coming in upset fashion at Parkside, the Rangers' first GLIAC loss of the season. Davenport scores at a rate of 71.6 PPG while allowing 78.8. 

Marcedus Leech Jr. leads the Panthers in scoring, averaging 18.5 PPG. That mark is 2nd in the GLIAC to NMU's Bjorklund. DU also has Jakub Dombek averaging 14.6 PPG and 7.0 RPG, the 2nd best rebounding mark across the conference.