MARQUETTE – The Northern Michigan University men were unable to make a fast start hold up as Grand Valley State pulled off several second-half runs to take a 70-59 college basketball victory on Thursday at the Berry Events Center.

Wildcats freshman guard Naba Echols shared game scoring honors with 14 points, while sophomore teammate Jordan Perez added 12 and senior Donnell Cegers 10. Perez, junior Alex Mustert and sophomore Kenny Williams shared team rebounding honors with five each.

Ricardo Carbajal and Aaron Hayes also scored 14 points for the Lakers, who had four players score in double figures.

GVSU improved to 15-7 overall and 9-7 in the GLIAC. NMU slipped to 6-14 and 4-12.

The Wildcats jumped out to a quick 10-1 start before the Lakers grabbed their first lead of 16-14 at the midway point of the first half.

Northern quickly retook the lead and didn’t trail the rest of the first half, holding a 33-27 lead at the break.

Mustert made it an eight-point game, 35-27, in the first minute of the second half before GV’s initial run of the second half got them a 40-39 lead. The game stayed relatively close – after a Cegers jumper, Northern trailed just 52-50 with 6:37 to go.

But the Lakers’ second run after intermission, a 14-0 blitz in less than five minutes, broke the Wildcats’ backs as they trailed 66-50 with 1:33 remaining.

Northern remains at home to take on Ferris State at 1 p.m. Saturday.

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