MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan men's basketball returns to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) competition this week, as they'll head to the Lower Peninsula to take on the Davenport Panthers and Grand Valley State Lakers.

Northern Michigan (9-5, 2-0) will first take a stop in Grand Rapids on Thursday, January 4 to clash with Davenport (3-6, 0-1) at 7:30 p.m. The Green and Gold will then take on the Lakers of GVSU (4-7, 1-0) in Allendale on Saturday, January 6 at 3 p.m. 

After a 2-0 start in GLIAC play with victories over Wayne State and Saginaw Valley State in early December, the squad from Marquette will look to continue to stay atop the conference standings and build upon its current five-game winning streak.


Follow the Action
Follow @NMUMensBBALL and @NMU_Wildcats on Twitter for continuous updates throughout the week.
 
Thursday, January 4 - at Davenport at 7:30 p.m.
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Saturday, January 6 - at Grand Valley State at 3 p.m.
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A Word From Matt Majkrzak
"When you start back up after semester, it almost feels like the start of a season. We know these teams well…it's gonna be tough and we're going to have to be our best to win either of these games on the road."



Last Time Out
Northern returned from the holiday break in the giving mood, dishing out a season-high 29 assists en route to a decisive 95-37 win over Ripon College on December 30 in the first game back at the Berry Events Center.

The 'Cats posted a dominant second half, outscoring Ripon 62-18 while shooting 26-32 (81.3%) from the field and 5-9 (55.6%) from deep. Carson Smith led the way for the 'Cats with 16 points, shooting 6-11 from the field and 4-6 from deep. Sam Schultz picked up a 12-point 11-rebound double-double, Dylan Kuehl and Sam Privet both scored 11 points, and Max Weisbrod and Brian Parzych both dished out eight assists to go with nine and seven points, respectively. 

The victory was the final game of an extensive eight game home stand in which the 'Cats went 6-2, winning the last five. 


Cat Nips

• Northern is averaging 83.6 ppg while allowing 72.8 ppg. The 83.6 points per game is second in the GLIAC. NMU is shooting 48.6% from the floor and 33.2% from downtown. The 'Cats are also averaging 7.9 more rebounds a contest than their opponents, good for 19th in the nation. NMU is only allowing 7.2 offensive rpg, the best mark among conference teams. NMU's 1.55 assist/turnover ratio is 16th across Division II. 
• The 'Cats are near the top of the conference in both creating assists on offense and preventing assists on defense, as their 16.9/game is second most while the 9.1/game they allow is the fewest. 
• The Green and Gold offense is led by Dylan Kuehl (18.0 ppg), who is third in the GLIAC in scoring. He is shooting an efficient 54.7% this season. Over his last six games, he is averaging 21 points a game on an outstanding 61.4% (51-83) field goal percentage with a 71.0% (44-62) two-point FG% in that span. 
• Four other Wildcats are averaging in double figures: Max Weisbrod (13.2), Carson Smith (12.1), Brian Parzych (11.5), and Sam Schultz (11.1). Northern is the only conference team to have five in double figures. 
• Sam Schultz leads the GLIAC at 10.4 rebounds/game, which is good for 14th in the country. Averaging 11.1 points/game, he is one of 15 in DII to be averaging a double-double.
• Kuehl was named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week on December 11. He made the All-GLIAC First Team and All-Defensive Team as a redshirt freshman, and was named to the GLIAC Preseason First Team this season. Reigning GLIAC Freshman of the Year Max Weisbrod received Preseason Second Team honors after earning those same honors to end 2022-23.
• The Wildcats are currently 73-50 (.593) under 5th year head coach Matt Majkrzak.
• NMU has won nine of the last 10 against Davenport including the last three on the road. The 'Cats have dropped six of the past seven to the Lakers and have not won in Allendale since January of 2020. 

Notes on Davenport
The Panthers enter Thursday's matchup at 3-6 overall and 0-1 in the GLIAC. They have lost the last two and have won the lone home game they have played this season. DU scores 74.6 ppg while allowing a conference-high 79.6. The Panthers shoot 45.2% from the floor and 35.4% from three. Taking care of the ball has been an issue for Davenport, as they cough up the ball more than anyone across the GLIAC, giving up 14.2 turnovers/game. 

The offense is led by GLIAC Preseason Player of the Year Marcedus Leech Jr., averaging the second most points in the conference at 18.4 points/game. He's been the go-to for the Panthers, as his 13.6 shots/game is over four more than anyone else on the team. 

In two meetings last season, the Wildcats were victorious 89-74 and 81-64. Dylan Kuehl averaged 17 points/game for Northern while Leech Jr. poured in 35 and 25 points in the two contests. 


Notes on Grand Valley State
The Lakers are 4-7 overall and 1-0 within conference play. GVSU has lost its last three, but returns home where they are 4-2 this season. 

Grand Valley averages 72.7 ppg while allowing 70.4. They shoot 43.0% from the floor, which is last in the GLIAC, and 33.3% from beyond the three-point line. The Lakers have dominated the glass this season, as their 8.5 rebound margin is 14th in the country and the 14.2 offensive rebounds per game is 11th. The Laker attack is led by Marquette native Marius Grazulis (12.4 ppg and 9.4 rpg) and Britain Harris (12.3 ppg). 

GVSU got the better of the Wildcats in two meetings last season, edging NMU 82-77 in Marquette and 81-75 in Allendale. Grazulis averaged 19 points and nine rebounds while Kuehl averaged 17.5 points/game for NMU.