Kuehl paces Wildcats with 28 points
MARQUETTE, Mich. – On a night when frigid temperatures covered the Upper Peninsula, the No. 13 Northern Michigan men’s basketball team heated up when it mattered most, closing the game on a 13-4 run over the final 3:30 to defeat Purdue Northwest 82-75 on Thursday night at Vandament Arena.
Dylan Kuehl was sensational, fueling the Wildcats’ comeback after NMU trailed by as many as nine points in the first half and entered the break down 41-37. He finished with a game-high 28 points, scoring 17 in the second half while shooting 10-15 from the field and 7-8 at the free-throw line. Kuehl also anchored the defense with a game-high three blocks, including a highlight-reel denial on a dunk attempt in the opening half.
Northern had three additional players reach double figures. Cal Klesmit followed with 18 points and came up big in the closing moments. With two minutes to play, he had a key steal that led to a fastbreak and-one to give NMU the lead for good. He later sealed the win at the line, going 2-2 in the final second. Klesmit also dished out a game-high five assists.
Jackson Dudek recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, highlighted by a thunderous driving dunk, while Sam Privet chipped in 11 points. Bennett Basich made his impact on the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds, several of which came in crucial late-game possessions.
Purdue Northwest placed five players in double figures and was led by Kyle Ross, who had his way in the paint with a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Northern finished the night shooting 30-63 (47.6%) from the field, while the Pride shot 30-58 (51.7%). NMU won the rebounding battle 35-31 overall, including a decisive 22-12 edge in the second half after being outrebounded 19-13 before halftime.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 17-2 overall and 8-1 in GLIAC play, remaining neck-and-neck with Michigan Tech, which edged Wayne State 75-74 on Thursday night.
How it Happened
The opening minutes featured fast-paced offense on both ends, as Jackson Dudek and Dylan Kuehl each knocked down early three-pointers while the teams traded baskets. Purdue Northwest shot efficiently out of the gate, and despite NMU keeping pace early, the Pride used an 8-10 start to take an 18-14 lead at the second media timeout.
A momentum swing came midway through the half when Kuehl delivered an emphatic block at the rim on a dunk attempt over him. Dudek followed with another three to put NMU back in front 21-20 as the half crossed its midpoint, then added a big-time swat on the defensive end himself. PNW answered with five straight points before Cal Klesmit halted the run with a triple, but the Pride continued to shoot at a high level, connecting on 12 of their first 17 attempts.
An 8-0 Pride run pushed the margin to nine at 35-26, but Northern clawed its way back late in the half. Klesmit buried another three to trim the deficit to two at 37-35 with 1:22 remaining. Still, the Pride carried a 41-37 lead into the break, shooting nearly 60 percent (17-29), including 4-5 from beyond the arc, while also holding a 19-13 rebounding edge. Kyle Ross led PNW with 15 points and six rebounds, while Dudek paced NMU with 12 points and five boards.
Northern opened the second half with renewed energy, scoring its first points on a third-chance opportunity before Klesmit and Bennett Basich each knocked down threes. That surge gave NMU a 45-43 lead, its first since early in the opening half. Dudek punctuated the run with a thunderous dunk, igniting the crowd as the Wildcats stormed out on a 17-4 run to take a 54-45 advantage at the 13:55 mark.
Purdue Northwest responded with a 10-2 run to pull within one at 56-55 near the midway point of the half, then followed with another 7-0 burst to regain the lead at 62-59 with eight minutes remaining. Down the stretch, Northern leaned heavily on Kuehl inside while the Pride continued to attack with balanced scoring. NMU reclaimed the lead at 67-66 with 5:43 to go, aided by key rebounds from Basich.
The final minutes featured back-and-forth play, with the game tied at 71-71 inside of three minutes. A huge play came when Klesmit came up with a steal and converted a fastbreak and-one to give NMU a 74-71 edge with two minutes left. Kuehl then came up with another timely block, and after the Pride missed the front end of a one-and-one, Northern maintained its three-point cushion.
Kuehl extended the lead with a driving layup at the 45-second mark before Purdue Northwest answered to make it 76-73. Basich responded with a layup off a Klesmit assist with 25 seconds remaining, and after a Pride three-point attempt fell short, Brooks Hinson and Klesmit each went 2-for-2 at the free-throw line to seal the win. Northern closed the game on a 13-4 run to secure the 82-75 victory.
Up Next
The Wildcats will look to stay on track on Saturday, Jan. 24, when they welcome the Wayne State Warriors to Vandament Arena.
