Great Lakes Wire

The Northern Michigan men's basketball team began their season with a decisive 78-59 victory over Maryville in Wisconsin Dells. The Wildcats showcased depth and rebounding strength, as all ten players scored and the team held a significant 47-26 advantage in rebounds.

A pivotal moment came with a 14-0 run that spanned the end of the first half and the beginning of the second, transforming a narrow one-point lead into a comfortable 15-point margin. Brian Parzych led Northern's scoring efforts with 15 points, supported by Dylan Kuehl's 14 points and Julien Smith's 10. Sam Privet contributed eight points while leading on rebounds with 11, and Biggie Luster added four steals to help secure a 13-6 edge in that category.

Initially trailing at 10-8, Northern's reserves sparked an 11-4 run. Despite Maryville briefly regaining the lead at 27-25, NMU closed the first half strong to lead by eight at halftime. Offensive rebounds were crucial for NMU in this period, as they collected twelve compared to Maryville's single offensive board.

Continuing their momentum into the second half, NMU scored seven straight points to extend their lead further. They maintained control throughout, building up to a commanding 56-35 lead midway through the second half. Although Maryville attempted to close the gap, Northern sealed their win with key contributions from Parzych, Kuehl, and Smith in the final minutes.

Northern shot 43.1% from the field while Maryville had a slightly better shooting percentage at 46.4%. Keyyaun Batchman of Maryville was the game's top scorer with 18 points.

Next up for Northern is a game against Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday night in Wisconsin Dells.