NMU Men fall to Lakers

Courtesy of NMU Athletics


MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team was defeated by U.P.-rival Lake Superior State University on Thursday (Feb. 21). The Lakers took the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup, 58-41 from the Berry Events Center.

With the loss, the Wildcats are 5-19 overall and 4-16 in the GLIAC. LSSU improves to 13-11 and 10-10 in conference play.

The Lakers took the lead from out of the gates for a 7-0 run before NMU went on the board. Junior forward Scooter Johnson opened the scoring for the Wildcats on a layup two minutes into the game. NMU’s closest margin of the game was with 13:13 left in the half when sophomore guard Spencer Huss made a shot from beyond the arc to put the deficit to two (10-12). The Lakers closed out the first 20 minutes of play with the 35-21 advantage.

LSSU continued to control the game in the second half. The Wildcats were only able to get within 11 points of the Lakers early in the half, as LSSU led 38-27 with 16:49 remaining. In the final 10 minutes of play, just 11 points were scored between both teams on six points by LSSU and five by NMU.

Junior forward Matthew Craggs led Northern with 12 points on three three-pointers, one two-pointer and was 1-for-1 from the free throw line. Johnson tallied nine and sophomore guard Quinten Calloway added six off the bench. NMU shot 7-for-9 (77.8 percent) from the charity stripe.

For the Lakers, Derek Billing led all scorers with 14 points. Derek Kinney (13) and Alex Williams (10) rounded out the double digits for LSSU. Kinney also contributed with eight rebounds, six on defense. LSSU shot 21-for-45 (46.7 percent) and were 11-for-18 (61.1 percent) at the free throw line.

The Wildcats will close out play at home on Saturday (Feb. 23) against Northwood University. The Timberwolves lost at Michigan Technological University, 82-70 on Thursday (Feb. 21) evening.

Senior forwards Joe Simon and TJ Cameron will be honored before the game, as they play in their final home game.

Following Saturday’s game, there will be an overtime period at Hudson’s Classic Grill beginning at 5 p.m. with d’oeuvres provided and a cash bar. The public is welcome to join the men’s and women’s players and coaches to celebrate the season.