NMU, MTU and GVSU tied for GLIAC lead with 9-2 records
ALLENDALE, Mich. – In a tightly contested, back-and-forth affair, the No. 10 Northern Michigan Wildcats fell at the No. 23 Grand Valley State Lakers 85-80 on Thursday night, snapping a five-game winning streak.
The game saw 11 ties, 11 lead changes, and was played within one or two possessions for nearly the entire 40 minutes. The Wildcats trailed 41-39 at the break and briefly took a 45-43 lead in the second half, but the Lakers regained the advantage shortly after and would hold it the rest of the way, despite NMU battling back to one possession several times.
Consistent rhythm was lacking for most of the night as the teams combined for 47 fouls and 61 free throw attempts.
Northern was paced by Cal Klesmit with 17 points on five triples. Dylan Kuehl, Jackson Dudek, and Sam Privet all scored a dozen, while Bennett Basich had 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds. GVSU was led by Ethan Alderink with 23 points and Jalen Charity with 20.
The Lakers finished over 50% at 25-46 (54.3%) while NMU struggled at 23-62 (37.1%) despite attempting 16 more shots than the Lakers. The Wildcats led in rebounds 36-29, including 20 on the offensive glass. Grand Valley pitched a 12-0 shutout in fastbreak points and also led in the paint, 32-26.
With Davenport defeating No. 6 Michigan Tech 72-69, the Wildcats, Lakers, and Huskies find themselves in a three-way deadlock at 9-2 atop the conference standings. Northern is 18-3 overall.
How it Happened
Northern opened the scoring with a Dylan Kuehl fadeaway from the elbow before Cal Klesmit buried a three and was fouled, converting the four-point play. Jackson Dudek followed with a triple to give NMU a 9-6 edge at the first media timeout. Brooks Hinson provided an immediate spark off the bench with two threes as the Wildcats started 4-5 from deep, though both teams found early success from beyond the arc.
Dudek continued to fuel the offense with three straight baskets midway through the half, pushing NMU ahead 24-20. Momentum shifted soon after, however, as foul trouble mounted for the Wildcats. Seven of the first nine fouls were whistled against NMU, putting Grand Valley State in the bonus just over halfway through the half. Dudek, who started 4-4 from the field and led NMU’s early push, picked up his third foul and was forced to the bench.
GVSU capitalized with a 6-0 run during a nearly four-minute NMU scoring drought to regain the lead. Dudek’s backup, Sam Privet, also ran into foul trouble, committing four fouls before halftime. The first half lacked rhythm, featuring 32 combined free throws. The Lakers carried a slim 41-39 advantage into the break. The half featured nine ties and nine lead changes.
The second half mirrored the start of the first, as Kuehl scored the first basket and Klesmit followed by knocking down a three and drawing a foul to complete another four-point play, giving NMU a two-point edge. Grand Valley State later moved in front 54-49 with 13 minutes remaining, marking the first lead greater than four points for either side.
The Wildcats’ offense went cold for a stretch as GVSU extended its advantage to 58-52 at the midway point of the half. Both teams traded timely three-pointers, with Klesmit and Charlie Miller connecting for NMU, but the Lakers maintained a 65-60 lead with 7:51 to play.
Northern responded with a 5-0 run to pull within one, 66-65, with 5:30 remaining. With every possession magnified down the stretch, Grand Valley State answered with back-to-back baskets to take a 72-66 lead at the final media timeout.
GVSU buried a key three to push the margin back to six with 1:40 left before Klesmit answered to make it 77-74 with 1:30 to go. After the Wildcats closed within two at 78-76, GVSU’s Trevor Smith connected on a decisive three with 19 seconds remaining to give the Lakers an 81-76 cushion and effectively seal the outcome.
Up Next
The Wildcats will next take on Davenport, who defeated No. 6 Michigan Tech 72-69 on Thursday night. Northern will take on the Panthers on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 3 p.m.
