This story, photo courtesy of NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO button to hear RRN's Casey Ford interview Coach Matt Majkrzak, and click the thumbnails for RRN video highlights.
CALEDONIA, Mich. – The No. 10 Northern Michigan Wildcats used balanced scoring and domination on the glass to defeat the Davenport Panthers 77-63 and move to 19-3 on the season and 10-2 in GLIAC play.
The back-and-forth first half saw seven ties and nine lead changes, with NMU ahead 41-38 at the break. Davenport closed the gap to two three times throughout the second half, and it was 66-63 with 2:50 to play, but the Wildcats never relinquished their halftime advantage and emphatically closed the game on an 11-0 run to secure the road win.
Dylan Kuehl led the Wildcats with 18 points and nine rebounds while contributing four assists. Jackson Dudek had 15 points on 6-7 shooting and pulled down seven boards. Brooks Hinson scored eight of his 11 in the second half, including a timely three in the closing minutes, while Sam Privet added 10 points and nine rebounds. Cal Klesmit dished out a game-high seven assists.
Northern held a 44-28 advantage on the glass, further improving its nation-best rebounding margin. NMU also led in offensive rebounds 14-9, which turned into a 13-6 second-chance advantage.
With Grand Valley's victory over Michigan Tech, the Wildcats and Lakers are now tied atop the conference standings at 10-2.
