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

CHICAGO - The Northern Michigan men's basketball team picked up a big victory on Monday night, edging the Roosevelt Lakers 75-68 to move into a tie for fourth place in the conference standings with two games to play. 

The Wildcats never trailed in the game, but needed to put in a full 40-minute effort to get the job done against a scrappy Roosevelt squad. NMU jumped out of the gates with a 20-5 lead, including a 14-0 run, just over eight minutes into the game. That early run proved pivotal, as from there, the sides exchanged shot-for-shot and point-for-point much of the way to the final horn. 

The Lakers hung around all game and made a run to close the deficit to one with five minutes to go, but Northern responded with an 11-2 run over 80 seconds to put the bow on an important road win. 

Dylan Kuehl was stellar for the Wildcats, scoring 15 of his 23 points in the second half which included a one-handed slam for the final points of the game. He also pulled down 10 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Gerald Gittens chipped in 13 while Jackson Dudek and Brian Parzych each added a dozen. Roosevelt's Enari Thomas led all scorers with 27. 

Northern shot 26-64 (40.6%) to Roosevelt's 24-53 (45.3%), but had its second-best advantage of the season on the glass by pulling down 17 more rebounds (43-26). That included a season-high 18 offensive rebounds that led to 20 second chance points. 

NMU snapped a three-game skid with the victory and now sit at 17-9 overall and 11-7 in the GLIAC. The Wildcats are tied with Parkside, who they will see on Thursday, in a battle for fourth place and postseason home court. Both teams are one game ahead of Grand Valley and Wayne State who share a 10-8 conference mark.