MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University men's basketball team is set to defend its home court when they take on the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals for a GLIAC Quarterfinal matchup. Tip-off is set for Wednesday, March 1, at 5:30 p.m. from the Berry Events Center. 

The Wildcats come into the tournament as the third seed, boasting a 21-7 overall record and a 13-5 conference record for a .722 winning percentage. The Cardinals enter the tournament as the sixth seed, with a 14-14 overall record and a 9-9 conference record for an even .500 winning percentage. 


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Wednesday, March 1 -vs Saginaw Valley State at 5:30 p.m.
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Last Time Out
NMU struggled in the first half and trailed by as many as 11 early in the second half, but a 22-9 run to close out the game emerged the Wildcats as victorious over its 906-rival the Michigan Tech Huskies, 65-57.  

Max Bjorklund and Dylan Kuehl each posted 15 points to lead the Wildcat attack, with Max Weisbrod right behind at 13 points. Kuehl tacked on an impressive 15 rebounds for a 15-15 double-double effort. Dan Gherezerger had 15 for the Huskies. 


Cat Attack
The Wildcats are 21-7 (13-5 GLIAC) and finished in third place in the GLIAC behind Parkside and Ferris State. Northern is averaging 80.8 PPG while holding the opposition to a mark of 70.8 PPG.

For as young as the 'Cats are, they have the lowest turnover clip per game in the GLIAC at 9.9, the 8th lowest turnover average in Division II. The Wildcats also do a good job cleaning up the glass, averaging 6.9 more rebounds per game than the competition. No one in the GLIAC allows fewer offensive rebounds than the 'Cats, limiting opponents to 7.1/per game. 

NMU is led by Max Bjorklund, scoring 20.3 per contest, the best mark in the GLIAC. Freshman Dylan Kuehl is averaging 13.0 PPG and leads the team with 6.9 RPG, good for first in the GLIAC, and his 56.1 FG% is second in the GLIAC and second-best among Division II freshmen. Max Weisbrod is averaging double figures at 12.0 PPG and leads the team in assists at 5.1 APG, good for second across the conference landscape and runner-up in the country among first-year players. Wesibrod also holds a 45.9 3PT%, which is the fifth-best in the GLIAC.  

Max Bjorklund has accrued double digit point in 13 straight games, 15 or more points in his last eight, and 22 or more in three of his last four. 


Scouting Saginaw Valley
The Cardinals come into the matchup 3-2 in their last five games, but coming off a 73-65 loss to Parkside in their last regular season game. The Cardinals are led by Freddie McIntosh averaging 16.0 PPG, followed closely by Tre Garrett who averages 15.0 PPG. 


Previous Matchup vs. The Cardinals
NMU defeated the Cardinals of Saginaw Valley State 81-64 at the Berry Events Center on February 2. 

Max Weisbrod, Dylan Kuehl, Max Bjorklund, and Jackson Dudek all reached double figures and combined for 67 of NMU's 81. Weisbrod scored 20 to lead the way. Kuehl had an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double while Bjorklund added 17 and Dudek another dozen. Freddie McIntosh led all scorers with 26 points for SVSU. 

Northern Michigan led for nearly 90% of the game, shooting 28-62 (45.2%) from the floor and 12-26 (46.2%) from beyond the arc. The NMU defense held the Cardinals to a cold-shooting night, as they went 26-70 (37.1%) from the field and 10-33 (30.3%) from deep. Elsewhere on the stat sheet, the 'Cats dominated the glass, cleaning up 41 rebounds to 26 for the Cardinals. NMU controlled points in the paint 30-16 and added five more assists on the night. 


GLIAC Tournament
Wednesday, March 1 | Quarterfinals
Campus sites, higher seed is host

Game 1    No. 1 Parkside vs. No. 8 Michigan Tech, 7:30 p.m.     
Game 2    No. 4 Lake Superior State vs. No. 5 Grand Valley State, 6 p.m.    
Game 3    No. 3 Northern Michigan vs. No. 6 Saginaw Valley State, 5:30 p.m.    
Game 4    No. 2 Ferris State vs. No. 7 Purdue Northwest, 7 p.m.    

Saturday, March 4 | Semifinals
Hosted by TBD

Game 5    Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2       
Game 6    Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4      

Sunday, March 5 | Championship 
Hosted by TBD

Game 7    Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6