Northern Michigan University’s Dylan Kuehl, center, puts up a layup against Michigan Tech defender Gabe Smith, right, during their GLIAC game played at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Thursday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

BIG RAPIDS — A fourth-year player on the men’s basketball team at Northern Michigan University reached a significant milestone on Saturday in the Wildcats’ victory at Ferris State.

Not only did graduate student forward Dylan Kuehl score a game-high 20 points, but he became only the fourth player in program history to surpass 2,000 career points as NMU won 75-53 to at least temporarily take over first place alone in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The Wildcats improved to 23-5 overall and 14-4 in the conference, a half-game ahead of Michigan Tech as the Huskies only played one game last week, with the “second game” scheduled for tonight at Ferris.

This week’s two games are the final ones of the regular season in the GLIAC.

MTU is 13-4 in the league games, while third-place Grand Valley State is another half-game back at 13-5. Those three teams have clinched the top three spots for the upcoming GLIAC Tournament that begins next week. Fourth-place Lake Superior State is 10-8 in league play.

In Big Rapids, Kuehl put up his points efficiently, making 10 of 17 from the field, adding four assists and four rebounds with just one turnover in 30 minutes court time.

Jackson Dudek contributed 13 points to the winning effort, making a pair of 3-pointers to go with four rebounds, two assists and no turnovers in 32 minutes.

And teammate Cal Klesmit pumped in 12 points, also making a pair of 3s to go with a game-high eight rebounds and three assists. Northern’s Sam Privet and Brooks Hinson chipped in with eight points apiece, Hinson hitting a pair of triples, Privet grabbing four rebounds.

Tae Boyd paced Ferris (10-14, 7-10 GLIAC) with 15 points.

Statistically, the Wildcats shot significantly better, 50% to 33%, making 10 more shots, 29-19, on exactly the same number of attempts, 58.

NMU also held advantages in rebounds, 38-31, and assists, 21-11, while being called for fewer fouls, 13-9.

The first seven baskets of the game changed the lead each time, but when Hinson popped in a 3 with 11:56 to go in the first half, it gave Northern a 9-7 lead it wouldn’t give up the rest of the day.

That’s because that basket came near the beginning of a 17-0 run that put the Wildcats ahead 23-7 with 6:18 left in the half after a Trevor Polite free throw.

The lead briefly bumped to 18 points before NMU settled for a 34-21 halftime advantage.

The lead hit 20 for the first time at 41-21 with 18:09 to go on a Kuehl layup, never dipping below 17 points the rest of the game.

Northern has a shot at no worse than a share of the GLIAC regular-season title with a pair of wins this week at Vandament Arena against a pair of league bottom dwellers. The Wildcats host last-place Roosevelt at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 10th-place Wisconsin-Parkside at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Tech, which if it wins tonight will pull back into a tie with NMU, plays the same two teams at home on the same days, just in reverse order.

NMU 75, Ferris St. 53

Saturday at Big Rapids

Summary (field goals, free throws, total points)

NORTHERN MICHIGAN — Kuehl 10-0-20, Dudek 5-1-13, Klesmit 4-2-12, Privet 2-3-8, Basich 1-2-4, Hinson 3-0-8, Miller 1-0-3, Allen 1-0-2, Robertson 1-0-2, Ingalls 1-0-2, Polite 0-1-1. Totals 29-9-75.

FERRIS STATE — Body 6-2-15, Bingham 5-0-12, Claerbaut 0-2-2, Hardy 0-1-1, Asi 5-2-14, Moore 3-1-9. Totals 19-8-53.

Halftime score: NMU 34-21

FG shooting: NMU 29 of 58 (50 percent), Ferris State 19 of 58 (32.8 percent); 3-point shooting: NMU 8 of 26 (30.8 percent), Ferris State 7 of 27 (25.9 percent); FT shooting: NMU 9 of 12 (75 percent), Ferris State 8 of 10 (80 percent); Rebounding, NMU 38 (Cal Klesmit 8), Ferris State 31 (Mykel Bingham 6); Assists, NMU 21 (Bennett Basich 5), Ferris State 11 (Bingham 3); Steals, NMU 5 (5 players with 1 each), Ferris State 5 (Brandon Claerbaut 2); Turnovers, NMU 8, Ferris State 9.

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