Kuehl 19 points, eight rebounds for Wildcats
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Northern Michigan men’s basketball team found themselves in a sizable 17-point hole in the first half, but a 16-0 run to close the first half and open the second got NMU right back in it and the ‘Cats locked in throughout the second half for a 60-52 come-from-behind victory on Thursday at Davenport.
The win marks six in a row for Northern Michigan. Matt Majkrzak is now 6-0 at NMU in the first game after New Year’s Day.
The holiday break blues seemed to be a real thing for the Wildcats early on, as they trailed 32-15 with five minutes to play in the opening half. DU had three lengthy runs of 7-0, 12-2, and 7-0 over an 11-minute window to gain the big lead.
A flip then switched for the Green and Gold, as they scored the last 11 of the first half and the next five out of halftime to get within a point, 32-31, with 16:22 on the clock.
The defense of the ‘Cats was the mainstay in the comeback effort, holding DU scoreless for just over nine minutes and without a field goal for over 11 minutes of action.
NMU continued to keep their foot on the gas once they were back in it, grabbing its first lead at 36-35 after an and-one from Dylan Kuehl with 13:52 to play. A pair of triples from Kuehl followed and the ‘Cats didn’t relinquish their lead in the final 12 minutes. Those nine points from Kuehl were perhaps the most important of his game-high 19. He also paced NMU with eight rebounds while adding two blocks. Four other ‘Cats managed at least six boards.
In the final 12 minutes, the NMU advantage didn’t stretch past five until Julien Smith drained back-to-back triples with two minutes to play to lead by 10 and put the game on ice.
It was a display of the clutch gene and pure perseverance from Smith, as an off night had him at 0-12 from the floor before hitting the two biggest shots of the night.
Collectively, Northern had its worst shooting performance of the season, going 21-57 (36.8%), but they held Davenport to a slightly worse 17-51 (33.3%). Both sides also struggled from three, as the ‘Cats were 5-24 (20.8%) while the Panthers shot 5-19 (26.3%).
Outside of its victory against Division III Northland College, NMU recorded opponent lows in points (52), field goals (17), and field goal percentage (33.3%), a true testament to the Green and Gold defense that is now allowing a GLIAC-low 64.1 points per game.
NMU led in rebounds 45-38, with a 28-15 advantage in the second half. NMU also commanded the scoring in the paint, managing 32 points to DU’s 14.
Gerald Gittens Jr. was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 11, nine of those coming in the first half.
The Wildcats are now 9-2 on the season and a perfect 3-0 in the GLIAC. The Panthers fell to 4-7 overall while still winless in league play at 0-3.
Up Next
NMU will head to Allendale to take on Grand Valley State on Saturday, January 4 with a 3 p.m. opening tip.
