NMU Men’s Hoops lose to T’Wolves

Courtesy of NMU Athletics

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team was defeated 69-66 by Northwood University on Saturday (Feb. 23) in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game from the Berry Events Center.

Northern is now 5-20 overall and 4-17 in the conference. Northwood improves to 12-13 overall and 11-10 in the GLIAC.

The Wildcats led by as many as 14 in the second half, after a tied score (28-28) at the break. After two made free throws by sophomore guard Quinten Calloway, NMU had a comfortable 66-53 lead with just under five minutes remaining. On the next play, the Timberwolves’ Wes Wilcox made a shot from in the lane, and was fouled. Wilcox made the two free throws to complete the three point play, to cut the NMU lead to 10 (66-56).

In the final four minutes of play, Northwood went on a 10-0 run to tie the game at 66 with 48 ticks left on the clock. Junior forward Scooter Johnson drove into the lane for a layup and missed with 24 seconds remaining. After a timeout by the Timberwolves, Northwood’s Booker Stoudmire fired a three point shot for the game winner with five seconds remaining on the clock.

Junior forward Matthew Craggs led the Wildcats with 21 points on two three-pointers, six two-pointers and went 3-for-3 from the free throw line. Johnson finished with 15, and senior forward Joe Simon had a career-high 11 points in his final game at home.

The Wildcats shot 26-for-52 (50 percent) from the floor, and were 11-for-16 (68.8 percent) from the charity stripe. NMU out-rebounded Northwood, 32-28.

For the Timberwolves, Darvin Ham led with 16 points. Four other players also scored in the double figures: Wes Wilcox, Cameron Joyce and Dylan Langkabel each had 12, while Will Bowles added 10. Ham also led with eight rebounds.

Northwood shot 26-for-56 (46.4 percent) and were 10-for-13 (76.9 percent) from the free throw line.

Senior forwards TJ Cameron and Joe Simon played in their final home game in the Green and Gold, and were honored before the game.

The Wildcats will close out the season at Michigan Technological University next Saturday (March 2). The Huskies defeated Lake Superior State, 79-79 on Saturday (Feb. 23). NMU’s last win was when the Wildcats defeated MTU, 59-55 on Feb. 2.