ROMEOVILLE, Ill.---The Northern Michigan University men's basketball team managed to win just seven games last season.

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers won 25 games, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA-II tournament last year.

Well, this is a new year.

Northern, with a line-up made almost entirely of freshmen and sophomores, not only competed with UWP, but pulled off a 97-75 victoryat the GLIAC/GLVC Challenge in Illinois.

Five players scored in double figures to lead the 'Cats to the upset win.

The Wildcats entered the game without three players due to pre-season injuries, and the Rangers sported two starters at 6-foot-9...with another 6-9 man on the bench.

But NMU got off to a good start, and Parkside was ice cold early in the game from the field.

And while the 'Cats did have an occassional breakdown on defense, their aggressive transition offense and lights-out shooting more than made up for that.

Senior Brett Branstrom had what Coach Bill Sall called the best game of his career at Northen. The Mid Peninsula High School standout scored just one basket (on a slam dunk early in the game), but had four blocks, seven rebounds, and three assists...and he did most of that work matched up against men who were several inches taller than him.

In all, five Wildcats scored in double figures.

Naba Echols, a sophomore who was a big part of last year's Wildcat team, led the way with 24 points, on 9-of-16 shooting. He made all six of his free throws, and contributed eight rebounds.

Fellow sophomore Isiah Johnson poured in 23 points, with three three-pointers and eight rebounds. That was a career high for Johnson (his previous high was 15).

Freshman Sam Taylor had several athletic drives to the basket, and scored 16 points in his Wildcat debut. He also had a pair of three-point baskets.

Freshman Rod Johnson scored ten points, including a pait of three-pointers that came at key moments when the Wildcats were fending off Ranger rallies late in the first half and early in the second half.

Freshman Will Carius had a big game, despite foul trouble that limited him to 19 minutes of play. Carius had 11 points and six rebounds.

And another freshman, Marcus Matelski, had a strong debut, nailing a couple of three-pointers in scoring eight points. And Ian Hodges even got into the act with a late three.

Northern Michigan shot 51.4 percent from the field (36-of-70), and made 14 three-point baskets in 29 attempts. The 'Cats made 11 of 12 free throws, and took care of the ball, committing only a dozen turnovers. And the outrebounded the taller Rangers, 38-28.
 

Not bad for a bunch of freshmen and sophomores.

Northern Michigan will return to action on Sunday afternoon with a game against the host Lewis University Flyers. Lewis lost to Michigan Tech, 87-70, later Saturday.

You can hear the NMU-Lewis game live on WUPT-FM (100.3 The Point) in Marquette, and on WCHT-AM (NewsTalk 600) in Escanaba, Sunday starting at 3:30 ET/2:30 CT.

Michigan Tech faces UW-Parksdide at 2:00 ET.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and video highlights from Saturday night's Wildcat win. Click the AUDIO links above to hear interviews with Wildcat senior Brett Branstrom.