Northern Michigan University’s Dolapo Olayinka, center, dunks as Ferris State’s D’angelo Hughes, left, and Cole Walker look on during the first half of a GLIAC men’s basketball game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Thursday. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team had a tough task ahead of them Thursday night as No. 8 Ferris State rolled into the Upper Peninsula.

The Wildcats did their best to control the Bulldogs’ potent offense and managed to hold them to their lowest total of the season, but NMU still ended up on the wrong end on the scoreboard as it fell 61-48.

Northern (7-9, 4-4 GLIAC) may have looked good on the defensive end, but it was plagued by some ice-cold perimeter shooting as the Wildcats were 1 of 18 from beyond the arc.

Troy Summers led the Wildcats with 20 points off the bench, while Dolapo Olayinka had 10.

In the first half, NMU took its first lead of the game at 12-11 on a bucket from Marcus Matelski at the 10:31 mark. However, the Bulldogs (18-2, 7-1) rallied and led 22-16 before Summers ended the run with a basket. Olayinka got the Wildcats within two on a dunk at 22-20, but Ferris stayed in control and led 30-24 at the half.

Northern kept at it, though, in the second half and cut its deficit to one points twice. The first time came less than in a minute in when a layup from Alec Fruin and three-point play from Olayinka made the score 30-29.

After Ferris built its lead again, the Wildcats came back to make it 43-42 Bulldogs with 13 minutes left. NMU eventually tied it at 45-45 on a dunk by Myles Howard and a free throw from Olayinka with 10:10 remaining, but Ferris wouldn’t be denied as it ended the game on a 16-3 run to get the hard-earned win.

Northern hosts Lake Superior State (6-10, 3-5) Saturday at 1 p.m.

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