MARQUETTE, Mich. - In its first matchup against the Lakeland University Muskies, the Northern Michigan University men's basketball game fought hard for a 98-71 victory. 

The teams led a tight matchup for the majority of the game until the Wildcats ran away with a 19-4 four-minute run in the second half. Sam Schultz and Casey Verhagen led the offense with 18 points each. CJ Campbell (14) and Carson Smith (13) each hit double digits to aid in tonight's victory.

Verhagen (5) and Smith (4) led the team in assists, with a total of 19 at the final buzzer. NMU shot 38-64 (59.4%) from the field while LUM shot 26-58 (44.8%)

How it happened
1st Half
The Muskies took the initial lead in the first half. A rebound picked up from an NMU free throw two minutes in allowed Lakeland to start a 10-4 run, taking a six-point lead three minutes in.

Lakeland expanded their lead to seven points just after the six-minute mark, this would be their largest lead of the game.

NMU responded with an 11-2 run, taking the lead back with eleven minutes remaining in the half.

The teams stayed neck and neck for the remainder of the first, with NMU earning their biggest lead of six points 15 minutes in.

A foul drawn by Schultz netted the Wildcats two points with four seconds remaining, securing the lead on the half. The 'Cats finished 37-33 leading into the second.

Both teams closed out the half shooting 12-28, with the Wildcats edging out the Muskies 17-12 in rebounds and 5-2 in steals.

NMU was led in the first half by Sam Schultz and CJ Campbell with eight points each and Carson Smith with seven points.

Schultz closed out the half with 66.7 percent field goal accuracy and a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe. Campbell sank three of four shots to earn eight points.

Schultz kept the ball in Wildcat possession with five rebounds, while Carson Smith grabbed three rebounds and two steals.

2nd Half
The Muskies closed the scoring gap at the start of the second half, but the Wildcats found momentum following back-to-back buckets outside the arc from CJ Campbell and Najashi Tolefree six minutes in.

The 'Cats used this momentum to make a 19-4 run in the next three minutes, bringing their lead to 20 points, the 'Cats then held the lead for the entire second half.

Casey Verhagen took charge of the Wildcats offense in the second half, sinking 16 points and finding five assists. Verhagen finished the matchup with a 72.7 field goal percentage.

CJ Campbell closed out the matchup with 30 seconds remaining with a dunk, bringing the team to its biggest lead of the night, 27 points.

Up Next
The 'Cats will face off against Concordia St-Paul on the road this Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.