Northern Michigan University’s Jackson Dudek dribbles the ball during a game against Finlandia played Dec. 18 at the Berry Events Center in Marquette. (Photo courtesy NMU)

BIG RAPIDS — The two Maxes — Max Bjorklund and Max Weisbrod — combined to score 50 points but it wasn’t enough as the Northern Michigan University men’s basketball lost a 106-93 overtime thriller at Ferris State on Saturday afternoon.

The Wildcats fell out of first place in the GLIAC after leading it alone just two days earlier.

NMU, which also lost at Lake Superior State on Thursday, dropped to 15-6 overall and 7-4 in the GLIAC, tied for third behind new leaders Ferris State and Wisconsin-Parkside, both of which are 8-3.

Northern is tied with LSSU at 7-4, while Saginaw Valley State is next at 6-4.

The Wildcats host SVSU on Thursday before entertaining Wayne State on Saturday.

At Big Rapids on Saturday, Bjorklund scored 29 points and Weisbrod 21, while teammate Dylan Kuehl added 19.

The trio combined to make nine 3-pointers, including four by Weisbrod, and also sank 14 of 18 free throws between them.

Kuehl nabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, while Bjorklund and Weisbrod had eight apiece.

In addition, Bjorklund made a game-high seven assists with Weisbrod having six.

Ferris’ Solomon Oraegbu led all scorers with 27 points, making 13 of 14 free throws, while Mykel Bingham had a game-high 12 rebounds to go with 11 points.

A half-dozen Bulldogs scored in double figures, which included Ethan Erickson scoring 15.

And Marquette Senior High School graduate Vejas Grazulis just missed that club, scoring nine points for Ferris State in just 16 minutes court time as he sank 3 of 5 from the field, including making his only 3-point attempt, and 2 of 3 free throws while adding three rebounds and a steal.

Though there were multiple lead changes and ties, Northern led for most of the first half, getting its lead up to 14 points twice, the final time 48-34 with 32 seconds to go on a Kuehl layup.

That was also the Wildcats’ halftime lead, which remained at at least six points until less than seven minutes remained.

Ferris got within 68-64 with 6:44 to go on a pair of Grazulis free throws, though Northern again expanded the advantage to double digits, 77-66, on a Sam Schultz layup with 4:11 to go.

NMU had a scoring drought down the stretch in regulation, with FSU holding a 20-8 edge in the final 3:43 to force overtime at 88-88.

Though the Wildcats had an early 91-90 lead in OT on a Kuehl layup with 4:07 remaining, Ferris used a 14-0 run to effectively end the game, making it 104-91 with 45 seconds to go.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.