MARQUETTE, Mich. – After opening the 2026-27 season with three games in Wisconsin Dells over Halloween weekend, the Northern Michigan men's basketball team returns to the Waterpark Capital of the World for two more contests at this weekend's Midwest Region Tip-Off.

The Wildcats will open against Missouri-St. Louis on Friday, November 13, at 2 p.m. ET before taking on Winona State on Saturday, November 14, at 2 p.m. ET.

The two contests will mark the fourth and fifth games of a seven-game stretch in Wisconsin Dells for Northern. The Wildcats will return to the area next weekend for two more games before traveling to Minnesota Duluth on November 28.

Friday's game will be on 100.3 The Point while Saturday's can be heard on 94.9 The Bay, with Casey Ford on the call. The games are also streamed on the Justagame Fieldhouse website.


Follow the Action
Follow @NMU_MensBBall on Instagram and @NMU_Wildcats on X (formerly known as Twitter) for updates leading up to and during the games.


A Word From Keil Ganz
"I am pleased with our off week. We tried to tweak some things here and there, and I am proud of how the guys have responded. Both of our opponents are pretty talented teams that return some talented players. It will start with defending, rebounding, and taking care of the basketball."



Last Time Out
NMU opened the 2026-27 season at the D2 CCA Midwest Tip-Off Challenge in Wisconsin Dells two weekends ago, finishing the weekend with a 1-2 record. The Wildcats opened the Keil Ganz era in impressive fashion with an 82-62 victory over Central Oklahoma before falling to Harding (75-59) and Lincoln Memorial (72-69) to close out the tournament.

Northern set the tone in its season opener, controlling the contest from the opening possession and building a 19-point halftime advantage. The Wildcats shot an impressive 56.6 percent from the floor and 53.8 percent from three-point range while dishing out 20 assists on 30 made field goals. Five players reached double figures, led by Brooks Hinson with 22 points, including six three-pointers. Kyle Olagbegi added 13 points and seven rebounds as NMU cruised to the 20-point victory.

The Wildcats faced a tough test against Harding on Saturday, struggling to find their offensive rhythm in a 75-59 setback. Pryce Gregoire led Northern with 13 points, while Ross Robertson added 11 points in the second half. Olagbegi also chipped in 10. NMU bounced back with a strong effort against Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, battling back from a double-digit first-half deficit to enter the break tied at 37. The Wildcats reclaimed the lead seven times in the second half but ultimately came up just short in a 72-69 decision. Olagbegi led the way with a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double, earning All-Tournament Team honors. Hinson and Gregoire each added 10 points.

The Wildcats finished the weekend shooting 46.1 percent from the floor across their three contests, showing their ability to compete against quality competition.


About the Wildcats
Through three games, Hinson (13.0 ppg), Olagbegi (12.7 ppg, 8.3 rpg), and Gregoire (11.0 ppg) lead the Wildcats offensively.

Under first-year head coach Keil Ganz, the Wildcats enter the 2026-27 season looking to build on one of the most successful campaigns in program history. Northern finished 28-7 last season, setting a program record for wins while capturing its fourth consecutive GLIAC regular-season or postseason championship and earning its fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Wildcats also climbed as high as No. 10 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) National Poll, their highest ranking since 1993.

Ganz returns to Marquette after spending the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he helped the Phoenix improve from 4-28 to 18-15. This marks his third stint with the Wildcats program after previously serving as an assistant coach in 2023-24 and associate head coach in 2024-25. During his previous time in Marquette, Northern won the 2025 GLIAC Tournament Championship and continued a historic stretch of postseason success under former head coach Matt Majkrzak, who departed for Northern Illinois after seven seasons leading the Wildcats.

Northern returns six players, including guards Charlie Miller (6.6 ppg), Hinson (4.9 ppg), and Isaiah Allen (4.1 ppg). All three showed their scoring potential last season, each reaching double figures multiple times while shooting better than 32% from three-point range. Aidan Bellisle, Robertson, and Gregoire also return and look to step into larger roles.

The Wildcats will need to replace significant production from last season, led by graduate student Dylan Kuehl. The D2CCA First Team All-American averaged 21.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while earning GLIAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Cal Klesmit and Jackson Dudek also earned All-GLIAC recognition, leaving several key contributions to replace.

Of the eight newcomers, four are freshmen, while four transfers join the program: Jake Dunham from Parkside, George Bellevue from Panola College, Olagbegi from IU South Bend, and Bristol Lewis from Wisconsin-Platteville.

The Wildcats have reached the NCAA Tournament and won a GLIAC regular-season or postseason championship in each of the past four seasons. With a new head coach and several new faces, Northern will look to maintain that standard and compete for another conference championship in 2026-27.


2026-27 GLIAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Grand Valley State, 89 (5)
1. Lake Superior State, 89 (3)
3. Michigan Tech, 83 (2)
4. Ferris State, 68 (1)
5. Parkside, 56
6. Northern Michigan, 51
7. Purdue Northwest, 49
8. Saginaw Valley State, 47
9. Wayne State, 37
10. Davenport, 26
11. Roosevelt, 10