MARQUETTE, Mich. - Over 11,000 people got to experience something truly special on Sunday afternoon at the Superior Dome Showdown in the heart of the Upper Peninsula. College basketball coaching icon Tom Izzo and his Michigan State Spartans matched up with his alma mater, Northern Michigan, resulting in a 70-53 victory for MSU. More importantly, the event was a resounding success all-around that many will remember for a lifetime. 

In the world's largest wooden dome, the Superior Dome Showdown is believed to have set a record for the largest attended indoor event in the history of the Upper Peninsula, beating the 11,000 that attended a President George Bush speech in the Dome in 2004. 

Although an exhibition, Sunday's clash with the Spartans sure didn't give off that impression. As both head coaches, along with several players on each side would say, the game had the intensity and feeling of a "mini Final Four." 

"The whole weekend had a dream-like quality to it," said NMU coach Matt Majkrzak. "Everything was awesome and checked every box of what we were hoping to pull off. A Division II school hosting an event of this magnitude, I don't know how many could pull it off."

On the court, it was a perfect measuring stick for Majkrzak and his revamped Wildcats to see how they stacked up against the best of the best with the regular season less than a month away. 

Defensively, the Green and Gold were stout, holding the Spartans to 70 points on 43.1% shooting, both marks that fell short of what MSU averaged against high-level DI competition last year. The Wildcats were also relentless on the offensive glass, holding their own with eight offensive rebounds to nine from Michigan State. 

"I thought we did a really good job of taking away the paint the best that we could," added Majkrzak. "When we were active, I thought we gave them problems at times. I think we did a great job of putting forth an effort that would make Coach Izzo proud. He's our champion, that's our guy, that's the North Star of what we want to be and what we want to do."

"I like his team," said Izzo of Majkrzak and the Wildcats. "I think he's a really good coach and they cut as hard as anybody we play."

The Wildcats trailed 31-19 at the break, but kept pace with the Spartans in the second half, being narrowly edged 39-34.
 
Redshirt junior Jackson Dudek impressed, pacing all scorers with 14 points off the bench, including a 3-4 shooting clip from beyond the arc. In a cold-shooting first half for the Wildcats, Dudek's touch from downtown kept the 'Cats in it.

"Preparation breeds confidence and I was feeling awesome," said Dudek. "It felt good in the first half and they got me the ball and that's how our offense works. To have the opportunity to play against such a prestigious legendary coach and team is such an honor and we are so thankful and appreciative."

Graduate transfer Julien Smith also found double figures for the Green and Gold, recording 10 points back by a pair of triples, all in the first half, before seeing limited action in the second. 

Several other Wildcats showed glimpses of what this team could be capable of this season. Sam Privet beat the first half buzzer with a high-effort putback, Dylan Kuehl showed he compete with the cream of the crop with a pair of blocks, Brian Parzych and Brandon Trilli each knocked down a three, and newcomers Derek Merwick and Michael McNabb each proved their ability to get to the basket with multiple impressive drives and finishes at the rim among seven foot defenders. 

For the Spartans, Jase Richardson went a perfect 4-4 from the floor for 11 points while Xavier Booker chipped in another 10 to go along with three of the team's eight blocks. 

Northern Michigan led in the steals department 7-3 while committing one fewer turnover (14 to 13). 

On top of getting to compete against Michigan State at home, the game was nationally televised on Big Ten Network and was historic behind the mic with two of the best on the call, Bill Raftery and Lisa Byington.

Stay tuned to NMUwildcats.com, @NMUMensBBALL on X, and @nmu_mbb on Instagram for more photos, video, and content from Sunday's Superior Dome Showdown.