The Wildcats kept their share of the lead in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference at 11-2 by shooting 62.5% from the field on 30-of-48 shooting, even making 50% from 3-point range (9 of 18).

As it often does, NMU’s offense was led by Dylan Kuehl scoring a game-high 32 points as he hit on 14 of 19 from the field, even while missing on his only pair of triple tries. He also made 4 of 5 free throws, adding in a game-high eight rebounds to go with three blocked shots — as many as all other players on both teams together — and a team-high three assists.

Teammate Cal Klesmit came right along with him, pumping in 24 points as he made 8 of 9 from the field, including a sizzling 7 of 8 on 3s.

Bennett Basich kept up his strong scoring pace in the GLIAC season, adding 14 points as he hit his only 3-point try and 3 of 3 free throws while adding five rebounds and two assists.

Northern Michigan University’s Bennett Basich, second from left,, and Charlie Miller, front second from right, try to get to a loose ball during a GLIAC men’s basketball game played against Saginaw Valley State at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Thursday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Xavier Thomas led the Cardinals (11-10, 5-8 GLIAC) with 16 points coming off the bench.

NMU continues to be tied atop the conference with Grand Valley State as the Wildcats are 20-3 overall and ranked No. 16 in NCAA Division II.

Michigan Tech stayed a game back at 10-3 after beating Lake Superior State 96-76 also Thursday, while no other league teams has fewer than six conference losses.

After the lead changed hands five times in the first four minutes, Northern began to assert control, first when Kuehl hit a layup with 16:01 left in the first half to put NMU up 9-8, then about eight minutes later when Kuehl made another layup to give his team its first double-digit lead, 24-14, with 8:02 to go before halftime.

After settling for a 41-29 lead at intermission, the home squad quickly popped it to its first 20-point lead, 53-31, with 16:16 left on a Klesmit 3.

The Cardinals got back within 14 points on a couple occasions, the final time 71-57 with 3:52 left, but the Wildcats scored the final seven points to get their final margin back beyond 20.

NMU tries to protect its share of the top spot in the GLIAC when the Wildcats host Lake State (5-8 GLIAC, tie for seventh) at 3 p.m. today back at Vandament Arena.

NMU 83, Saginaw Valley St. 61

Thursday at Vandament Arena

Summary (field goals, free throws, total points)

SAGINAW VALLEY STATE — Taylor 5-4-14, Stefanski 2-1-6, Scott 2-0-5, Josephs 2-0-5, Nichols 1-0-3, Thomas 7-0-16, Ross 3-0-7, Duran 2-1-5. Totals 24-6-61.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN — Kuehl 14-4-32, Klesmit 8-1-24, Basich 5-3-14, Dudek 2-1-6, Miller 0-3-3, Hinson 1-2-4. Totals 30-14-83.

Halftime score: NMU 41-29

FG shooting: Saginaw Valley 24 of 55 (43.6 percent), NMU 30 of 48 (62.5 percent); 3-point shooting: Saginaw Valley 7 of 22 (31.8 percent), NMU 9 of 18 (50 percent); FT shooting: Saginaw Valley 6 of 18 (33.3 percent), NMU 14 of 17 (82.4 percent); Rebounding, Saginaw Valley 27 (Triston Nichols 7), NMU 28 (Dylan Kuehl 8); Assists, Saginaw Valley 14 (3 players with 4 each), NMU 9 (Kuehl 3); Steals, Saginaw Valley 5 (5 players with 1 each), NMU 9 (Charlie Miller and Trevor Polite 2 each); Turnovers, Saginaw Valley 12, NMU 13.

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