Northern Michigan Wildcats Men's Basketball | Northern Michigan University Athletics
Northern Michigan Wildcats Men's Basketball | Northern Michigan University Athletics
The Northern Michigan men's basketball team made a strong comeback in the second half but ultimately fell short against No. 22 Michigan Tech, losing 67-64 on Thursday night. The Wildcats trailed by as many as 17 points before rallying to tie the game in the final minute.
In front of a lively crowd, Northern Michigan faced challenges with inconsistent shooting and numerous fouls called against them during the first 30 minutes. Despite these obstacles, they managed to cut down a significant deficit with a 13-0 run, bringing the score within four points with four minutes remaining. Gerald Gittens' three-pointer narrowed it further to one point with just under two minutes left, and Dylan Kuehl's free throws tied the game in the final minute.
Michigan Tech responded with a jumper and successful free throws to regain a four-point lead. Julien Smith hit a three-pointer for Northern Michigan, making it 65-64 with only seconds remaining. However, Michigan Tech secured their victory by converting additional free throws, while Smith's last-second three-point attempt missed its mark.
The Wildcats shot 41.4% from the field compared to Michigan Tech's slightly better 41.5%. From beyond the arc, NMU was at 27.3%, while Tech was at 32%.
Dylan Kuehl led Northern Michigan with 21 points and achieved his first double-double of the season by grabbing 12 rebounds. Sam Privet contributed another 13 points for NMU. For Michigan Tech, Tomashek scored an equal team-high of 21 points alongside Adam Hobson who added another 13.
This defeat brings Northern Michigan's record to 16-9 overall and drops them to fourth place in their conference standings at 10-7. Meanwhile, this win boosts Michigan Tech’s record to an impressive overall standing of 19-6 and solidifies their leading position in GLIAC at home games with an unblemished record of twelve wins without any losses.
Looking ahead, NMU will continue their road games by facing Roosevelt next Monday followed by matches against Purdue Northwest and Parkside later that week.
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