Northern Michigan University’s Dylan Kuehl, left, drives to the basket and would make his shot while getting fouled by Davenport's Alden Ritt, right, during their GLIAC men’s basketball game played at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Friday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — Despite men’s basketball teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference only being three or four games into their league season, Northern Michigan University has emerged as its only undefeated team.

And a large part of that success can be attributed to leading scorer Dylan Kuehl.

The 6-foot-6, 200-pound graduate student from Iron Ridge, Wisconsin, was recognized for his contributions when he was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.

He led the Wildcats to their third and fourth conference wins without a loss when they defeated Davenport 101-65 and Grand Valley State 72-60 at their home Vandament Arena over the weekend.

NMU, 13-1 overall and working on a 12-game winning streak, is 4-0 in league games and ahead of 3-1 Michigan Tech and 2-1 Ferris State for the GLIAC lead. The 12-game win streak is one short of the program record.

Northern travels to Houghton to take on MTU at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Kuehl had a major part in the weekend wins, averaging 29 points in those two games while making 70.4% from the field, 19 of 27, and 69.2% on 3-pointers, 9 of 13, during that span.

He was particularly dominant against Davenport on Friday, scoring 33 points, two short of his career high, on 10-of-11 shooting from the field that included a perfect 5 of 5 on triples, plus 8 of 9 at the free throw line.

The Wildcats set a program record by making 21 treys in that game.

In Saturday’s victory, he led Northern with 25 points, including 18 in the first half as he finished 9 of 16 from the field and 4 of 8 on 3s, adding in 3 of 5 free throws.

Between the two games, he nabbed seven rebounds and didn’t turn the ball over once in 62 minutes playing time.

Kuehl ranks No. 4 in scoring in the GLIAC both in all games at 17.9 points per game and also in conference games at 21.8 ppg. Interestingly, the league’s No. 1 scorer in GLIAC-only games is teammate Cal Klesmit at a 23.8 ppg clip.

Kuehl, a three-time GLIAC First Team honoree, would have to be considered one of the league’s most complete players as he also ranks in the GLIAC, in all games, fourth with a 54.2% field goal percentage, fifth with 3.2 assists per game, and 11th with both 5.9 rebounds per game and 0.8 blocked shots per game.

NMU Sports Information reports that he currently ranks in the top-10 all-time at Northern men’s basketball history with 1,701 career points, good for sixth place, and 717 career rebounds, ranking 10th.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the announcement. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.