MARQUETTE, Mich. - Despite a career-high 32 points from sophomore Max Weisbrod, the Northern Michigan men's basketball team fell to No. 9 Minnesota State University Moorhead 83-79 in OT on Saturday in the PEIF Gym.

The Wildcats struggled from the free throw line, going just 12-23 (52.2%). Northern missed four of their last five attempts in regulation, including a pair of misses up 72-70 with 17 seconds left. The Dragons were 16-21 (76.2%) with two makes to tie the game at the end of regulation. NMU also missed two attempts in regulation, ending the game with just one make from the charity stripe in its final seven attempts. 

MSUM's Jacob Beeninga presented a problem for the Green and Gold, especially early on, as he scored a season-high 35 points on seven triples, with 21 of those coming in the first half. 

After back and forth in the first six minutes, Moorhead went on a 14-4 run to go up double digits at 27-17 with under 10 minutes to go in the opening half. The Dragons didn't relinquish the lead the rest of the half, taking a 39-33 lead into intermission. 

Moorhead opened the second half on a 15-5 spurt to take its largest lead,54-38, four minutes into the half. The Green and Gold responded with a 9-0 run to close the deficit to five, with Dylan Kuehl and Max Weisbrod each hitting triples on the run. 

With just over two minutes remaining, Weisbord hit a layup to give NMU its first lead since early in the game, 66-65. Weisbrod would hit a jumper with 30 seconds to go to lead by three, but MSUM's hit three free throws in the closing seconds to send the game to extra time. 

In overtime, the Dragons scored the first four points and the 'Cats were never able to recover and take the lead themselves, falling 83-79 in a back and forth affair. 

The Wildcats were 30-65 (46.2%) from the floor while the Dragons were 29-75 (38.7%). MSUM pulled down six more offensive rebounds than NMU, leading to a 20-9 edge in second chance points. 

Weisbrod''s 32 points paced the 'Cats, while Dylan Kuehl had a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double. Carson Smith also scored in double figures with 11 while Sam Schultz led the team on the glass pulling down 11 rebounds. 

The Wildcats drop to 4-4 on the season, while the Dragons remain unbeaten at 5-0. 


Up Next
Northern will return to the hardwood at the PEIF Gym on Sunday, November 26, as the No. 16 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs visit with a 1 p.m. opening tip.