'Cats Earn Important Road Win Over Grand Valley

This story was written by NMU Sports Information. Click the thumbnails to see RRN videos from the game, and to hear comments from Coach Matt Majkrzak.

ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan men's basketball team hit a season-high 12 three-pointers en route to a 78-70 win at Grand Valley State on Saturday afternoon, securing its seventh consecutive victory.

In a see-saw affair that had 13 ties and 16 lead changes, the Wildcats grabbed the lead with eight minutes to play and did not trail the rest of the way. NMU connected on a season-high 12 three-pointers and shot 18-21 (85.7%) from the free throw line, including a perfect 8-8 in the final 65 seconds, to secure the road win.

Dylan Kuehl paced the Green and Gold with 21 points, shooting 7-13 from the floor and tying a career-high with four triples on just six attempts. He added four rebounds, three steals, and a block. Kuehl has been on a tear for the 'Cats, scoring in double figures, connecting on at least five field goals, and pulling down at least four rebounds in ten straight games.

Sam Privet added 17 points, 15 of those coming in the first half, and led the Wildcats on the glass with eight rebounds. Julien Smith also broke double-digit scoring with 15 points while Brian Parzych dished out seven assists. GVSU's Kaden Brown led the home team with 21 points.

Northern shot 24-55 (43.6%) from the floor to Grand Valley's 23-56 (41.1%). NMU led in rebounds 39-30 and assists 16-11.

NMU used the long ball out of the gates to kick-start the offense, as five different 'Cats connected from beyond the arc in the game's first 10 minutes.

Nine of the 13 ties and 11 of the 16 lead changes took place in a back-and-forth opening half. The first 16 minutes were played within one possession until the Lakers broke out on a 9-0 run to lead 36-28 with four minutes to play.

Privet then ignited an 8-0 NMU run, scoring six straight to tie the game before the Lakers made a shot in the final seconds to take a slim 38-36 lead into intermission. Privet was the spark for NMU in the first, shooting 5-6 for 15 points in the half.

Just like the first half, the Wildcats looked to the three-ball to start the second. Smith banked in a three to open the second half scoring and Parzych, Kuehl (2), and Jackson Dudek all followed suit from deep as the 'Cats started 5-7 from deep in the first eight minutes to lead 53-45.

The Lakers then scored 10 straight points to briefly grab a 55-53 advantage. Kuehl connected on his fourth three with eight minutes to play to once again even the score at 57-57.

Many expected the 'Cats to continue to opt for the shot beyond the arc, but its next five buckets came from attacking the rim and included an 8-0 run that was polished off by a Kuehl backdoor slam to lead 67-59 with four minutes on the clock.

Smith hit Northern's final three to maintain an eight-point edge with three minutes to go and the Wildcat collective went a perfect 8-8 from the charity stripe in the final 65 seconds to ice the game away.

NMU's seventh straight win moved them to 10-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play. The Wildcats and Ferris State are the last remaining unbeatens in league play following Michigan Tech's overtime loss to Davenport on Saturday.