Stories courtesy of NMU Sports Information; RRN Sports Photos, Videos
 

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The Northern Michigan University men's basketball team split the weekend with Parkside with a 72-55 loss Sunday afternoon to open their first weekend of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a 1-1 record.

Dolapo Olayinka led the team in points with 17 while Tre Harvey boasted his own double-digit night with 13 total points. Solomon Orawgbu led Parkside with 16 points.

The Wildcats hopped out to an early lead, holding a nine-point edge over the Rangers through the first 10 minutes of play, 19-10. A pair of free-throws spurred a brief Ranger run in points, cutting the Wildcat lead to five points as the two teams battled it out on the court towards the end of the half.

Entering the halftime break, the Wildcats found themselves down by three after Harvey was fouled and sent to the line for two free-throws.

The second half started with a bang as the Rangers and Wildcats traded three-point shots through the first four possessions, with NMU nailing one along with a missed shot to Parkside's two baskets for the 39-33 Parkside lead.

A handful of missed shots hurt the Wildcats as they faced their largest deficit of the night to that point, down 47-35 with 15:51 to play.

The Wildcats fought back but the point gap was too great to overcome and they ultimately fell, 72-55, to the Rangers for the weekend split.

Next up, the men travel to Saginaw Valley State for a two-game series against the Cardinals, Friday, Jan. 15 and Saturday, Jan. 16. Both games will be broadcast on 100.3 The Point in Marquette, and NewsTalk 93.5 FM, 600 AM, in Escanaba.

SATURDAY RECAP

MARQUETTE---The Northern Michigan University men's basketball team opened up their season with a memorable win over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, a 76-75 overtime thriller. 

The game started with lots of back-and-forth action as both teams battled their way to baskets and it was the Wildcats up by one at the halftime break, 34-33.

The Rangers controlled the ball for the opening minutes of the second half, taking the lead back while the Wildcats looked to find that first-half success again. The two teams fought hard in the second half, with both teams hopeful to pull away and get the first win of the season.

Max Bjorklund looked to have put the Wildcats moments away from the win when he sank a three-point shot from deep but the Rangers rallied and carried the ball down the court, converting on a two-point shot to knot things at 69. Dolapo Olayinka gave the Wildcats hope as the buzzer sounded, throwing up a desperation three with a near-perfect arc but the ball hit the rim and bounced out. Overtime loomed.

Through the overtime period, the Wildcats seemingly dominated the ball but a handful of late calls brought the Rangers within one. After a made three-point attempt by the opposition, Tre Harvey rushed down the court and hit his own shot from beyond the arc for the 76-75 final.

With 23 points, Bjorklund led the team, shooting 50 percent from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 on the free throw. He also posted four defensive rebounds in the contest. Noah Parcher and Olayinka also had double-digit nights as Parcher tallied 11 points and Olayinka had 14. Adding 10 rebounds to his night, Olayinka recorded the Wildcats' first double-double of the season.

Solomon Orawgbu led Parkside with 23 points.