GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Sophomore guard Max Weisbrod tied a career high with six threes for a game-high 28 points as the Northern Michigan men's basketball team led wire-to-wire to defeat Davenport 81-63 on Thursday for its sixth straight victory. 

Northern had its third best shooting output of the season, going 31-54 (57.4%) and 10-25 (40.0%) from three. The Green and Gold also commanded rebounds and assists, edging DU 32-21 on the glass and 22-9 with helpers. Sam Schultz continued to pace the conference on the boards as he had a game-high 11. Weisbrod led the team with seven assists, while Dylan Kuehl contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Carson Smith also found double figures with 15 points. 

The Wildcats (10-5, 3-0) continue to sit atop the GLIAC standings with the win. During the six-game winning streak, Northern is outscoring teams by 23 points/game. NMU also has had at least 14 assists in all but one game this season, while dishing out more than its opponent in all but one as well.

 
How it Happened
It was a quick start for Max Weisbrod, as he hit a lefty layup, triple, and added another kiss off the glass in the opening minutes to give the Wildcats an early 10-7 lead. It took just over five minutes for Dylan Kuehl to notch a slam, as Najashi Tolefree found him alone below the net for a 12-7 lead six minutes into the contest.

Despite maintaining a slim lead nearing the halfway point of the first half, turnovers prevented the Wildcats from opening the game up as they turned the ball over seven times in the first nine minutes. 

As the clock rounded 10 minutes, the Panthers closed their deficit to a deuce five times over the next five minutes, and cut it to one on two occasions, but Northern seemed to have an answer each time. Carson Smith and Weisbrod each hit threes to expand the lead to multiple possessions during that stretch. The Wildcats led 31-27 with three minutes to go in the half. 

Weisbrod would rattle in a three with 40 seconds left and then find Sam Schultz who banked in a running layup in the final seconds as the Wildcats scored 10 of the final 12 points of the half to lead 38-29 at halftime. Weisbrod led the way with 15 points while the 'Cats held a 17-10 edge in rebounding. 

Out of the half, Dylan Kuehl hit the first bucket as Northern grabbed its first double-digit lead of the night early in the second stanza. Weisbrod then reached 20 points on his fourth three of the night to maintain a 52-37 lead with 13 minutes and change remaining. 

The Wildcats soon after scored seven straight to go up by 20, 63-43, with less than ten minutes remaining in the game. From there it was cruise control. Northern led by as many as 21 and didn't let it get below 16. The 'Cats led wire-to-wire in this one for a 81-63 win. 


Up Next
The Wildcats will remain downstate for a clash at Grand Valley State on Saturday, January 6 at 3 p.m.