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Rough first-half stretch sinks NMU men

By Journal Sports Staff

ALLENDALE — In their previous matchup in Marquette this season, the Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team outlasted Grand Valley State in a close game.

In Thursday night’s rematch in Allendale, a solid start turned into a nightmare for the Wildcats in the first half. A 14-0 run gave the Lakers a commanding lead as they maintained it the rest of the way for an 85-62 win.

Isaiah Johnson led NMU (15-10, 10-8 GLIAC) with 28 points, while Sam Taylor had 18. Hunter Hale was GVSU’s (15-11, 9-9) offensive leader with 23 points.

The Lakers started the game with a 7-0 run, but Northern answered back with a 3-pointer from Naba Echols and a jumper from Taylor.

The teams went back and forth with the Wildcats bouncing back whenever GVSU expanded its lead. A Marcus Matelski triple with 10:32 got NMU within three at 17-14, but the Lakers pushed their advantage to 10 with a layup by Isaiah Brock with eight minutes to play.

Matelski fired back with another trey, but then GVSU took control. A dunk from Brock made the game 35-17 Lakers with 4:56 remaining and a triple from Shaquan McArthur padded GVSU’s lead to 21.

Johnson stopped the Lakers’ run with a 3-pointer, but GVSU scored eight straight points to close out the half up 46-20.

GVSU continued to roll in the second half and two free throws from Hale gave the Lakers a 30-point lead with 16:04 remaining. A 3-pointer from Johnson got NMU’s deficit down to 25 at 69-44 with 8:31 left, and later Johnson hit another trey and Taylor dropped in a layup to cut the Lakers’ advantage to 20 with 7:27 remaining. But GVSU stayed comfortably ahead the rest of the way. The Wildcats head to Davenport on Saturday afternoon.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Ryan Stieg. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.

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