NMU Men's Basketball Season Preview

Courtesy of NMU Athletics

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team opens the 2012-13 season with an exhibition game at the University of Michigan on Thursday.

Doug Lewis enters his third season as the head coach. The Wildcats finished 9-17 last season and 5-14 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Eight players return from the 2011-12 squad along with five newcomers.

Returning at the guard position for the ‘Cats are sophomores Quinten Calloway, Spencer Huss, Haki Stampley and redshirt freshman Terry Nash. Calloway appeared in 16 games tallying 111 points, 33 rebounds, 29 assists and 10 steals. Huss played in 11 games and was named the team’s most improved player. Stampley will redshirt in 2012-13 after starting in 22 games and leading the team in minutes (742), three-pointers made (50), assists (47) and steals (34).

At forward, senior TJ Cameron and junior Matt Craggs will lead the way after both starting in 21 games in 2011-12. Cameron finished the season with 182 points, 82 rebounds, 45 assists and 20 steals, and was tamed team’s MVP. Craggs tallied 211 points, 133 rebounds, 20 assists and 18 steals on the season.

Sophomore Kendall Jackson and senior Joe Simon will also help out at forward along with three junior transfers Scooter Johnson, Jeron Lee and Michael Smith. Johnson played two seasons (2010-12) at Kent State University. Lee transfers from Lewis University and Smith played two seasons at Grand Rapids Community College.

Freshmen Stephen Pelkofer and Matt Iverson add depth to the roster. Pelkofer is 6-foot-2 athletic guard and Iverson is a 6-foot-10 forward who can spread the floor with a solid midrange.

NMU will play a 28-game schedule with 12 games at the Berry Events Center. NMU plays its final exhibition game at the University of Detroit on Nov. 9 at Callahan Hall.

The regular season opens with three non-conference games. Division III Finlandia comes to the Berry Events Center on Nov. 17 for the season and home opener. The ‘Cats travel to Milwaukee for the Fresh Coast Classic on Feb. 23-24. NMU opens the tournament against Lincoln (Pa.) in the semifinal. The final non-conference game is at Lewis on Dec. 30.

GLIAC action opens with first-ever meetings at Walsh and Malone on Nov. 29 and Dec. 1. Northern hosts 11 conference games starting with Hillsdale and Findlay on Dec. 6 and 8. Also coming to the Berry Events Center are Ashland (Jan. 3), Lake Erie (Jan. 5), Saginaw Valley (Jan. 17), Wayne State (Jan. 19), Michigan Tech (Feb. 2), Grand Valley State (Feb. 7), Ferris State (Feb. 9), Lake Superior State (Feb. 21) and Northwood (Feb. 23).