MARQUETTE, Mich. - Under a blizzard warning in Marquette, the Northern Michigan men's basketball team completed another miraculous comeback, scoring the final eight points of the game to defeat No. 12 Ferris State 75-71. The win marks the ninth straight for NMU as they improve to 6-0 in the GLIAC and 13-5 overall.

After connecting on a buzzer-beater on Thursday, Max Weisbrod showcased the clutch gene once again. Weisbord hit three free throws down the stretch to take a one-point lead. With 14 seconds left and holding a one-point edge, he then stepped into a top of the key triple that splashed home to go up by four in the closing seconds. It was too little too late for FSU, as the Wildcats completed a comeback effort against a quality opponent for the second straight outing. 

Weisbrod led the Wildcat attack with 18 points while Riley Brooks and Carson Smith added 15 each. Sam Schultz pulled down 12 boards including an impressive six on the offensive end. 

Ferris led for over 90% of the contest, but the 'Cats got it done when it mattered most. On FSU's last four offensive possessions, they went 0-3, missed a pair of free throws, and committed a turnover. Northern took advantage of the trips earned at the charity stripe, going 24-30 (80.0%) in the game. 

At 6-0 in conference play, the 'Cats now have a two-win ledger on any other team in the GLIAC.  With more crucial games ahead, NMU's opponents will all be looking to take down the unbeaten team at the top. 


How it Happened
Dolapo Olayinka got the Bulldogs on the board first scoring from the post. A few possessions later, Max Weisbrod converted from the charity stripe to get the Cats' on board. In a first half that didn't have much rhythm, the Bulldogs maintained the lead for the majority of the half, with the largest lead at 10 points, 17-7, eight minutes in. 

NMU visited the charity stripe a lot in the opening half, going 14-18 from the line. Riley Brooks paced the way for the Cats' early on, scoring 10 points backed by a couple of triples. Sam Schultz caused frustration for the Bulldogs, attacking the offensive glass and creating second chance opportunities for Northern which led to trips to the free throw line.  

Schultz connected on a layup with 1:20 left in the half to give Northern its first lead of the night, but a pair of buckets from the visitors late gave them a slim 38-36 edge as the teams discussed matters in the locker room. 

The Green and Gold were able to trim the deficit to a single possession several times in the opening minutes of the second half, but the Bulldogs had an answer each and every time, not relinquishing the lead they put together. 

NMU finally pulled even after the 10-minute mark with a pair of Brian Parzych free throws to make it 56-56. The next eight points would come from FSU's Jack Ammerman as NMU trailed 64-56 with under eight minutes to go. Nine of the next 11 would go to the home squad, once again, making it a one-point game with 4:41 left. 

After the sides exchanged buckets for a couple of minutes, Dylan Kuehl flushed home a dunk with two minutes to go and Ferris would not score the rest of the night. Weisbrod would get three free throws and then hit a signature triple with 14 seconds left to go up by four. Two desparation shots from the Bulldogs rattled off and NMU won another thriller in Marquette, 75-71.


Up Next
The Wildcats will head back on the road for contests at Purdue Northwest on January 18th and Parkside on January 20th.