Good bench play is a key to the win
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan Wildcats continued their surge on Saturday afternoon, earning their 12th consecutive victory with a 72-60 win over Grand Valley State to improve to 13-1 overall and 4-0 in GLIAC play.
Northern came out of the gates firing, knocking down three triples in the opening five minutes to build a 16-5 advantage. That early burst proved pivotal in a physical, tightly contested game, as the two teams played even the rest of the way. The Wildcats briefly fell behind late in the first half, but they responded with a decisive 7-0 run to reclaim momentum and carry a 37-32 lead into halftime. Despite several pushes from Grand Valley in the second half, NMU never surrendered the lead.
Dylan Kuehl followed up his 33-point performance from Friday with another standout outing, leading Northern with 25 points, including 18 in the first half. Kuehl finished 9-16 from the floor and connected on four three-pointers, giving him nine triples over the weekend. Cal Klesmit provided steady support with 21 points and consistently attacked the rim, going 9-10 from the free-throw line.
Bennett Basich added a strong spark off the bench, contributing 12 points and six rebounds. He was NMU’s leading scorer in the second half with 11. Jackson Dudek led the Wildcats on the glass with seven boards. Northern was outrebounded 38-36, just the second time all season losing the rebounding edge, but made up for it with defensive discipline and timely shot-making.
Defense once again proved to be NMU’s calling card, as the Wildcats held Grand Valley to its second-lowest scoring output of the season. The Lakers shot just 19-55 (34.5%) from the field and 4-22 (18.2%) from beyond the arc. Northern continues to lead the nation in scoring defense, now allowing just 58.0 points per game.
Offensively, the Wildcats finished 21-52 (40.4%) from the floor and 9-23 (39.1%) from three.
How it Happened
Northern Michigan set the tone early behind its top scoring duo, as Cal Klesmit and Dylan Kuehl accounted for the Wildcats’ first 19 points of the game. Klesmit opened the scoring with a three before following with an acrobatic and-one on a strong drive, helping NMU jump out to a 9-3 lead just two minutes in. Kuehl and Klesmit continued to trade buckets, stretching the advantage to double digits at 16-5 five minutes into the half.
Grand Valley answered with a brief surge, scoring six straight, but Kuehl halted the run with a triple. Charlie Miller later connected from deep to give Northern a third scorer from long range, as the Wildcats opened the half 5-7 from three-point range. The Lakers stayed within striking distance, trailing 24-20 with eight minutes left and eventually pulled even, trailing just 24-20 with eight minutes left, before putting together a 17-6 run to take their first lead.
Northern responded in the closing minutes, regaining control with a 7-0 spurt capped by another Kuehl three-pointer. The Wildcats entered the break ahead 37-32, with Kuehl (18 points) and Klesmit (13) combining for 31 of NMU’s 37 points while shooting 6-9 from beyond the arc.
The second half opened with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm, as each side managed just two points by the first media timeout. Northern broke through with an 8-0 run to rebuild a double-digit cushion at 45-34, leaning on defensive stops and transition opportunities.
Grand Valley kept pressure on by getting to the free-throw line and trimming the margin to 51-45 midway through the half. Shooting remained difficult on both sides, with the teams combining to miss their first 14 three-point attempts of the half before Brooks Hinson knocked down a key triple to make it 55-46 with six minutes remaining.
Northern found its stride late, as Bennett Basich buried another timely three and Klesmit followed with a strong finish at the rim. Up 59-54 with four minutes left, the Wildcats went on a decisive 7-0 run to lead by a dozen.
Northern would score on its final nine offensive possessions, including multiple trips to the free-throw line. That helped seal the win down the stretch, closing out the contest to secure its 12th straight victory.
Up Next
A monumental matchup awaits NMU on Thursday (Jan. 8) as they will travel to Houghton to take on No. 5 Michigan Tech (12-2, 3-1).
