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Echols, Nash unable to save NMU men from loss to SVSU

MARQUETTE – Freshman Naba Echols posted a career-high 31 points, but the Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team fell short of upsetting GLIAC front-runner Saginaw Valley State, 83-79, Thursday night at the Berry Events Center.

Echols made 6 of 9 3-pointers and all five of his free throws.

The Wildcats’ Terry Nash also enjoyed a career-best performance, posting 19 points. He added a team-high five assists. Marcus Hall also scored 11 points for Northern.

NMU fell to 4-11 overall and 2-9 in the GLIAC North Division.

SVSU, led by 21 points from C.J. Turnage and 19 by Damon Bozeman, improved to 13-4 overall and 9-2 in the North.

Trailing 43-34 at halftime, the Wildcats came out hot to start the second half and get back into the game. Nash found Echols in the corner for a trey as part of a 5-0 run, cutting the lead to 43-39.

Echols once again connected from beyond the arc to draw the Wildcats to within three, 45-42, with 18:17 to go.

SVSU responded by growing the lead back up to eight, 54-46.

Echols made a jump shot to complete an 8-0 run and give Northern its first lead of the night at 55-54 with 12:16 to go. Both teams ran the floor and traded possessions to deadlock the game at 61-61 with 9:34 left.

NMU came out of a timeout by taking its largest lead of the game, 67-63, after a pair of Echols free throws, but SVSU soon answered and retook a 73-72 advantage with 5:15 to go.

The Wildcats stayed in it when Echols found Nash for a triple, putting the home ahead for what would prove to be the last time at 77-75 with 3:01 to go.

That lead lasted until Turnage made a layup with 1:22 to play that put the Cardinals ahead 78-77.

Echols was able to connect on a late layup to draw within two, 81-79, with two seconds remaining, but the Wildcats fell just short of the upset bid.

The Wildcats remain home to host Hillsdale at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Information compiled by Senior Sports Writer Craig Remsburg. He can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 251, or via email at cremsburg@miningjournal.net.

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