MARQUETTE, Mich. - With a win at home against the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals, the Northern Michigan University men's basketball team is traveling to Big Rapids, Michigan, to faceoff against the Ferris State Bulldogs in a GLIAC semifinal matchup. 

Ferris State is the highest seed remaining from regular season play, and will now host the semifinals through the championship matchup on their campus. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 4. 


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Saturday, March 4 - vs Ferris State University at 3:00 p.m.
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Last Time Out
It wasn't until 3:15 to go in the game when the NMU men's basketball team grabbed its first lead over the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals in the GLIAC Quarterfinals, and it was a lead they wouldn't relinquish, edging SVSU 75-66 at the Berry Events Center. 

A Max Weisbrod triple gave the 'Cats the lead with 3:15 to go and was part of a 13-2 stretch in the closing minutes. The defense was the key to punching the semifinal ticket, as it held SVSU empty from the field in the final dozen shots they put up. 

Max Bjorklund led the attack with 23 points, with 15 of those coming in the second half. Dylan Kuehl added a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double. Max Weisbrod scored 14 points, with a dozen of those in the final 20 minutes. Sam Schultz made an impact off the bench with nine points and eight rebounds while Brian Parzych drew two momentum-swinging charges late in the second half to lead the comeback efforts on the defensive end.


Cat Attack
The Wildcats are 22-7 (13-5 GLIAC) and finished in third place in the GLIAC behind Parkside and Ferris State. Northern is averaging 80.6 PPG while holding the opposition to a mark of 70.7 PPG.

For as young as the 'Cats are, they have the lowest turnover clip per game in the GLIAC at 9.8, the 8th lowest turnover average in Division II. The Wildcats also clean up the glass well, averaging 6.6 more rebounds per game than the competition. No one in the GLIAC allows fewer offensive rebounds than the 'Cats, limiting opponents to 7.2/per game. 

NMU is led by Max Bjorklund, scoring 20.4 per contest, the best mark in the GLIAC. Freshman Dylan Kuehl is averaging 13.2 PPG and leads the team with 7.0 RPG, good for first in the GLIAC, and his 56.3 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 4.8 APG, good for second across the conference landscape and runner-up in the country among first-year players. Wesibrod also holds a 46.0 3PT%, the fifth-best in the GLIAC.  

Max Bjorklund has accrued double-digit points in 14 straight games, 15 or more points in his last nine, and 22 or more in four of his previous five. 


Scouting Ferris State
The Bulldogs earned the right to host the remainder of the GLIAC tournament on the back of a 51-point second-half comeback victory against Purdue Northwest by a score of 79-69. 

Ferris State is led by Solomon Oraegbu who averages 18.0 PPG, scoring 15 or more points in his last 16 games, scoring 20+ in eight of those contests, and putting up 29 points or more in three of his last four games. 

As a team, the Bulldogs are first in the GLIAC in PPG (86.7), FG% (49.8%), FT% (75.3%),
RPG (41.4), APG (20.3), BLKPG (4.1), and OFF EFF (1.174). 

Previous Matchup vs. The Bulldogs
The Northern Michigan University men's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker in overtime to Ferris State by a score of 106-93. 

Max Bjorklund paced all student-athletes with 29 points on 10/22 shooting and 3/7 from deep. He also accumulated eight rebounds and seven assists. Max Weisbroad also dished out 21 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Dylan Kuehl was efficient, posting a 19-point 10-rebound double-double. 

The 'Cats led from the 10:59 mark of the first half, but a last-minute heartbreaker sent the game to overtime. The Bulldogs had a 14-0 run in overtime that would seal the deal. 

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

Game 1    No. 8 Michigan Tech 73, No. 1 Parkside 68    
Game 2    No. 5 Grand Valley State 68, No. 4 Lake Superior State 64    
Game 3    No. 3 Northern Michigan 75, No. 6 Saginaw Valley State 66    
Game 4    No. 2 Ferris State 79, No. 7 Purdue Northwest 69    

Saturday, March 4 | Semifinals
Hosted by Ferris State

Game 5    No. 5 Grand Valley State vs. No. 8 Michigan Tech, 5:30 p.m.    
Game 6    No. 2 Ferris State vs. No. 3 Northern Michigan, 3 p.m.    

Sunday, March 5 | Championship 
Hosted by Ferris State

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