Gittens' 18 Points Helps NMU Rally Past Parkside

This story was written by NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO button to hear post game comments with NMU Coach Matt Majkrzak.

MARQUETTE, Mich. - Gerald Gittens scored all 18 of his points and added three steals in the final 8:40 of Saturday's game to help guide the Wildcats past the Parkside Rangers 73-62. Northern is now 6-2 on the season and 2-0 in the GLIAC while dropping the Rangers to 2-6, 0-2.

The Wildcats trailed 37-30 early in the second half, but NMU rallied with a 13-0 run to grab the lead and then Gittens would take charge the rest of the way to ensure the Green and Gold victory.

As the second half crossed its halfway point and NMU held a slim 48-44 advantage, Gittens entered the game and immediately took over in all aspects. The senior scored all 18 points in the final 8:40 of play. He added a game-high three steals in that time frame and was relentless on the defensive end, creating offense from defense time and time again. He was 9-9 at the free throw line, led the team with five assists, and added three boards.

Dylan Kuehl also scored 18 points, Brian Parzych added 11, and all other seven 'Cats to play found their name in the box score.

As a team, the Wildcats had a historic game on the glass, dominating 33-18. Parkside's 18 total rebounds were the fewest from an opponent since Lake Erie College managed only 17 on January 5, 2013. You'd have to go further back on the defensive rebound count of 12, all the way to November 24, 2008 when Finlandia also only managed a dozen.

NMU was 22-45 (48.9%) from the floor and 6-20 (30.0%) from beyond the arc. The Rangers were 23-50 (46.0%) from the field with a 8-20 (40.0%) clip from downtown. NMU led in points in the paint 26-14 and second chance points 17-2.

Parkside had three in double figures, led by guard Josiah Palmer with 20.

The afternoon started slow, with each offense only connecting once from the floor in the opening four minutes of action. Six minutes in, a pair of Ranger triples gave them the early advantage at 10-4. Another stretch of back-to-back threes gave the visitors its largest lead of the game, 29-20, with 3:55 left in the opening half.

Kuehl answered with five straight followed by a Biggie Luster three to get back in the game. In the final possession of the first, Derek Merwick drove with a kiss of the glass, leading to a halftime score of 33-30 in favor of the Rangers. NMU shot 55.0% in the half, but nine turnovers plagued its desire to find a rhythm offensively.

The first four points out of the break went to the Rangers and they held a 37-30 lead at 18:42. Parzych connected from deep to kickstart a 13-0 NMU run. The Wildcats led 43-37 with 13 minutes remaining, holding Parkside scoreless for a six minute stretch.

With 8:30 to play, Gittens hit a corner three to give the 'Cats a 51-44 lead. His first steal came at the 6:15 mark and he got another 20 seconds later and converted on a fastbreak layup. Gittens then notched a third steal with 2:55 to play and converted on an acrobatic reverse-and-one to help the Green and Bold maintain a 61-56 lead.

He would go on to ice the game, scoring six of NMU's final eight points in the last 60 seconds, including a perfect 4-4 at the free throw line.

Northern will make its third trip to Wisconsin Dells, matching up with Upper Iowa on Saturday, December 14.