MARQUETTE, Mich. - The NMU men's basketball team (17-6, 9-4) is currently in a fight for the top-seed in the GLIAC, sitting just a game back of Parkside with five games left in the regular season. With every game important down the stretch, the 'Cats will be on the road for two, looking to stay in contention for a regular season GLIAC title. 

On Thursday, February 9, NMU will take the trip to Davenport (6-16, 2-10) for a 7:30 tip-off. On Saturday, February 11, the 'Cats will look to avenge its lone home loss this season when they pay a visit to Grand Valley State (13-9, 7-5) in a 3 p.m. clash with the Lakers. 


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Thursday, February 9 - at Davenport at 7:30 p.m.
Watch  |  Audio  |  Live Stats  |  Game Notes

Saturday, February 11 - at Grand Valley State at 3 p.m.
Watch  |  Audio  |  Live Stats  |  Game Notes


Last Time Out
After a two-game losing streak, NMU returned to winning ways this past week with an 81-64 win over SVSU and a 63-58 edging of Wayne State. 

Against the Cardinals, 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. 

It was a struggle early on for the Wildcats on Saturday vs. WSU, as they trailed 27-10 over halfway through the first half. The Green and Gold seemingly couldn't get shots to fall, had struggle keeping care of the ball, and ran into a hot-shooting streak from the Warriors early on. NMU would persevere, closing the deficit to 36-32 at halftime and outscoring WSU 31-22 in the second half. 

Max Bjorklund led the comeback attack for the 'Cats, scoring 12 of his team-high 16 in the closing 20 minutes. Max Weisbrod added a dozen to go along with six rebounds and five helpers. 

The biggest baskets arguably came from other 'Cats, however, as Carson Smith hit a triple with less than six minutes left to regain the lead that NMU would not relinquish and Dylan Kuehl hit two tough baskets in the final minute to put the game on ice. 


Cat Attack
The Wildcats are 17-6 (9-4 GLIAC) and are tied for second place in the GLIAC behind Parkside while riding alongside Ferris State. Northern is averaging 82.0 PPG while holding the opposition to a mark of 72.0 PPG.

For as young as the 'Cats are, they have the lowest turnover clip per game in the GLIAC at 10.3. That is the 11th 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 competition. No one in the GLIAC allows fewer offensive rebounds than the 'Cats, limiting opponents to 7.0/game. 

NMU is led by Max Bjorklund, scoring 20.1 per contest, the best mark in the GLIAC. Freshman Dylan Kuehl is averaging 13.6 PPG and leads the team with 6.5 RPG. His 60.1 FG% is tops in the GLIAC. Max Weisbrod is averaging double figures at 11.7 PPG and leads the team in assists at 4.8 APG, good for second across the conference landscape.   


In the Polls
In the latest D2SIDA Midwest Regional poll, the Wildcats are ranked sixth. 


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.

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

Scouting Davenport
The Panthers enter Thursday's contest with an overall mark of 6-16, going 2-10 in GLIAC matchups. DU has dropped four straight and are 3-8 on home court. The team averages 71.6 PPG, but allows a GLIAC-high 80.0 PPG to opponents. The Panthers also commit the most turnovers in the league at 15.7/game. 

Marcedus Leech Jr. averages 20.1 PPG to lead the Panthers, putting him neck-and-neck with Bjorklund for the conference lead. 


Previous Matchup vs. Davenport
The sides met in Marquette on January 21, with NMU coming out on top 89-74. Bjorklund led the way for the Green and Gold with 33, shooting 11-17 from the floor and 7-10 from downtown. Dylan Kuehl dominated the first half, scoring 18 of his 21 on 6-8 shooting. Max Weisbrod again controlled the point in impressive fashion, handing out 11 helpers.

Marcedus Leech Jr. scored 22 of his career-high 35 points in the second half for the Panthers to keep them in the game. He was 11-20 from the floor. 

In the game, NMU was 32-65 (49.2%) from the floor while hitting their stride from beyond the arc, going 15-31 (48.4%). The Panthers weren't too shabby themselves, shooting 25-53 (47.2%) from the field and 10-20 (50%) from three. 


Scouting Grand Valley State
The Lakers are one of the GLIAC's hottest teams, winning five of the past six. Overall, GV is 13-9 with a 7-5 conference record. They have a 6-3 record at home, most recently losing to Parkside 73-62.

GVSU averages 75.5 PPG while allowing 70.2. The Lakers shoot 47.3% from the field and 37.7% from three. It's a balanced attack with ten Lakers averaging at least six points/game. Marquette native Marius Grazulis leads with 11.7 PPG and 6.3 RPG.   


Previous Matchup vs. Grand Valley State
The Lakers handed NMU its lone home loss of the season back on January 19, edging the 'Cats 82-77. Despite 25 points from Dylan Kuehl and 10 assists from Max Weisbrod, all 11 Lakers scored as GVSU halted an eight-game winning streak from Northern. 

Trailing by double digits late in the first half, the Green and Gold cut it to six at the break and went on a scoring spree to go up by nine in the second half, but the Lakers rallied late and held on for the road victory. 

GVSU shot 31-63 (49.2%) while Northern went 30-58 (51.7%). The Lakers controlled the offensive glass 11-2 and the 'Cats struggled with foul trouble in the contest, as they picked up 21 personals to GVSU's 13, including Max Bjorklund fouling out late in the game.