CRUISE CONTROL: Wildcats Close 2024 With Win

This story was written by NMU Sports Information. Click the thumbnails to see video highlights from thr victory.

MARQUETTE, Mich. - In its final non-conference game of the season, the Northern Michigan men's basketball team handled business on Saturday afternoon at Vandament Arena, defeating the NCAA-III Northland College Lumberjacks 83-37. The Wildcats are now 8-2.

All 12 Wildcats that dressed got on the court, scored, and had at least one rebound. Michael McNabb led the way with 12 points on 10 shots, while the other 11 'Cats each had between three and seven shot attempts. Dylan Kuehl and Jackson Dudek reached double figures with 10 apiece. Eight 'Cats recorded an assist for a season-high 23 helpers. Merwick led the way with four.

It was a dominant and collective effort defensively as the Green and Gold recorded a season-high 16 steals, the most in the program since 17 against Finlandia on November 17, 2012.

Biggie Luster led the way on the defensive end with six steals, the most by a Wildcat since Sam Taylor also notched six on January 10, 2019. His six steals came in just 18 minutes of work, with five coming in the first half and three in the final minute of the opening half. Derek Merwick and McNabb each recorded three steals while Gerald Gittens Jr. had a pair.

NMU held Northland to just 16-54 (29.6%) throughout the game while the 'Cats shot 34-66 (51.5%), making at least half its shots for the fourth time this season.

The game started with an elbow jumper from Gittens Jr. on the opening possession, his 1,000th career collegiate point.

Kuehl showcased his athleticism early on with a driving slam a couple of minutes in. A few minutes later, Luster added back-to-back fastbreak dunks of his own. Kuehl added another dunk in the final minute of the first half as the Wildcats held a commanding 47-16 lead at intermission. NMU forced 13 first half turnovers and dominated the paint 32-2 through 20 minutes.

The Green and Gold scored the first nine points out of the break to lead by 40, 56-16. Majkrzak looked to his bench throughout much of the second half, with Aidan Bellisle and Cooper LePage each scoring their first points of the season.

Northern did not trail in the game and its largest lead of 46 came in conjunction with the final score.

The Wildcats held a 43-30 rebounding advantage, dished out 23 assists to NC's 10, and dominated the steals department 16-2. The 'Cats also led in points in the paint 50-10, points off turnovers 25-2, second-chance points 10-6, and bench points 45-15.