NMU Men's B-Ball loses to Walsh
Courtesy of NMU Athletics
NORTH CANTON, Ohio – The Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team opened Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on the road at Walsh University on Thursday (Nov. 29). The Cavaliers took the first-ever matchup, 75-68.
Northern (1-3, 0-1 GLIAC) was the first on the board on a three-point jumper by junior forward Matthew Craggs with 18:36 to go in the opening half. However, it would be nearly three minutes before the ‘Cats would score again after the Cavaliers went on an eight point run to lead 8-3. NMU tied the game at 12 with 10 minutes to go in the first half, and took the lead for the remainder of the half to go into halftime with the 34-24 advantage.
Craggs finished the first half with 13 points on nine points behind the arch, one shot in the paint and went 2-for-4 at the free throw line. Sophomore forward Kendall Jackson had 12 points off the bench for the ‘Cats.
Walsh (4-0, 1-0 GLIAC) started off the scoring for the second half on a three-point shot by Davonte Beard in the opening seconds of play. NMU senior forward TJ Cameron answered back with a three-point shot of his own, to put the ‘Cats up by ten (37-27). The ‘Cats kept its lead until the 13 minute mark when the Cavaliers scored eight straight points to cut the deficit by just three (47-44). Walsh took the lead with 6:13 to go in the game on a made behind the arch shot by Ryan Vanderhorst, and kept the lead for the rest of the game.
Sophomore guard Quinten Calloway led NMU with 15 points on two three pointers, four field goals and was 1-for-2 from the charity stripe. Craggs was two points behind with 13, and led the team with 12 rebounds, 11 coming on defense. Jackson and junior forward Scooter Johnson each tallied 12 points. The ‘Cats shot 25-for-56 on the night, and were 5-for-13 from the free throw line.
For Walsh, Jesse Hardin led the way with 15 points off the bench, while Brad Dupont had 14. Kenny Kornowski (12) and Hrvoje Vucic (10) finished out the double digits. Vucic led the boards for the Cavaliers with 10 rebounds, five each way. Walsh shot 28-for-62, and were 12-for 18 from the free throw line.
The ‘Cats will continue play in Canton, Ohio, as they face Malone University on Saturday (Dec. 1) at 1 p.m.