Dudek leads with 18 points off the bench
MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan men’s basketball team got back in the win column on Monday night, defeating the Roosevelt Lakers 77-55 at Vandament Arena.
The Wildcats held the Lakers to just 55 points, the third time in six GLIAC games the Green and Gold defensive collective has held the opponent to that number or less. Roosevelt shot just 19-60 (31.7%) from the field, an opponent season-low in Division II contests for NMU. The Wildcats shot 27-63 (42.9%) and forced the Lakers into 10 turnovers, scoring 18 points of those Roosevelt mishaps. NMU also led in points in the paint 32-20 while holding a slim 42-39 edge on the glass.
Northern’s offense was engineered by the bench, with the reserves accounting for 44 of the 77 (57.1%) points. Jackson Dudek led the way with a season-high 18 points, just two points off his career-high, while shooting 7-10 from the floor and also pulling down six rebounds. In extended minutes for the first time in his career, Cal Klesmit added 11 with three triples while Dylan Kuehl and Sam Privet each scored 10 with eight rebounds apiece. Kuehl also finished with a team-high five assists and two steals.
The Wildcats found success from beyond the arc, knocking down 10 threes. It was the third time this season Northern has hit double-digit three-pointers, with five ‘Cats contributing to that number Monday night.
The Wildcats got on the board first from Kuehl and a Julien Smith chase down block moments later seemed to give NMU instant life, but the Lakers fought back with a 9-0 run to lead 10-4 at 15:40.
Dudek then entered the game and scored seven straight to give Northern a lead. Joining Dudek’s contributions was Klesmit, knocking down back-to-back triples to push the Wildcats ahead 23-18 with seven minutes before halftime.
Shortly after, Gerald Gittens Jr. hit a pair from beyond the arc to suddenly put NMU ahead 33-20 at 3:33. That bucket capped off a 10-0 run, one of three runs of seven or greater for the Green and Gold in the first half.
After six straight from the visitors, Smith connected from deep to maintain a double-digit advantage as the ‘Cats led 38-26 at intermission. NMU had 25 of their 38 first half points come from the second unit, with Dudek leading the way at nine points.
As the second half got underway and progressed, an abundance of foul calls and back-and-forth play hindered either side from getting into a rhythm.
The Wildcats continued to build on its lead as the half crossed its halfway point and another 10-0 run, with eight coming from Dudek, put NMU ahead 67-40 with 6:20 to play. Shortly after, NMU would hold its largest lead of 28 at 69-41 with 5:41 to go.
As each team cleared the benches in the final minutes, Klesmit hit his third triple and Aidan Bellisle added two buckets to help Northern close out the victory on the right foot.
The win pushes the Wildcats to 11-3 overall and 5-1 in GLIAC play while Roosevelt fell to 4-10 with a 1-5 conference record.
