Northern Michigan University’s Max Weisbrod dribbles during an NCAA Division II Midwest Region tournament game played against Ferris State on Saturday in Indianapolis. (Photo courtesy NMU)

INDIANAPOLIS — Ferris State jumped out with an early 12-point unanswered spurt and held the suddenly cold-shooting Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team at arm’s length for an 81-65 victory in the opening-round quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Tournament’s Midwest Region on Saturday evening.

The Wildcats, who finish their season at 22-11, made just over a third — 33.8% on 22 of 65 — of their shots, while the Bulldogs (26-7) were making nearly half of theirs, 49.2% on 30 of 61.

It marked NMU’s worst shooting of the season even as Northern, the No. 4 seed in the regional, jumped out to a 7-4 lead about 2 1/2 minutes into the game following a Carson Smith 3-pointer. Teammate Sam Schultz had a pair of layups in the game’s opening 90 seconds, too.

But the Wildcats missed their next 11 shots, along with a pair of turnovers committed over the next 8 1/2 minutes. Late in that stretch, Smith made a pair of free throws stopping a Ferris 12-0 run that had put the Bulldogs, the region’s No. 5 seed, ahead 16-7 with 11 minutes left in the first half.

FSU quickly moved its lead into double digits, however, with its biggest lead of the first half being the one it had at halftime, 41-24. During the first half, Ferris outshot NMU from the field almost 2-to-1, 53% to 28%.

The Wildcats worked hard to whittle their deficit down to single digits, getting as close as 11 points twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half, then getting within 10 on three instances in the game’s final seven minutes, the final time at 75-65 with 59 seconds remaining on a Max Weisbrod 3-pointer.

But led by Ben Davidson making four foul shots, the Bulldogs went 6 for 6 at the free-throw line in the final seconds to thwart NMU’s fouling strategy.

Weisbrod led all scorers with 24 points as he sank six 3-pointers and dished out five assists. Schultz had 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Smith pumped in 13 points by making a pair of 3s and 5 of 5 free throws and pulling in six rebounds while committing no turnovers in 31 minutes court time.

Dylan Kuehl led all rebounders with 13 as he also scored five points and made a team-high two steals.

Davidson and Ethan Erickson paced Ferris with 19 points apiece, Erickson hitting five triples, Davidson 4 of 4 free throws and both also grabbing three rebounds. Teammate DeSean Munson added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Marquette Senior High School graduate Vejas Grazulis had two points for the Bulldogs while pulling in five rebounds, blocking two shots and making an assist in just nine minutes court time.

Ferris advanced to face No. 1 seed and region host Indianapolis on Sunday evening after the Greyhounds downed No. 8 William Jewell 71-65 on Saturday.

The other Midwest semifinal was earlier Sunday between No. 6 Lake Superior State and No. 7 Upper Iowa. Both were upset winners, the Lakers downing No. 3 Walsh 74-72 and the Peacocks dethroning No. 2 Kentucky Wesleyan 82-72.

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