Two weeks ago, the NMU men’s basketball team traveled downstate, where they went undefeated against a couple schools.
The team played two games on the road. First, the team defeated Saginaw Valley State (SVSU), beating the Cardinals 82-66. A few days later, on Saturday, the team took on Wayne State, where the Wildcats came out on top with a 66-61 victory.
“It’s kind of exciting to be playing in relevant games again… I mean, we came out and were, you know, smothering early, and then, you know, they—the adjustments we made—I think they adjusted to the adjustments, and it kind of leveled into a normal basketball game. But I do think we had a good plan early that worked early,” Head Coach Matt Majkrzak said.
In the blowout win over SVSU, both Dylan Kuehl and Sam Privet scored 13 points. They were joined by Derek Merwick, who had 12 points. Jackson Dudek rounded out the Cats’ top scorers with 16 points.
“We’ve hit that point of the Year where I think we’re all over trying to figure out if we’re any good or bad or whatever else, and it’s just ‘find a way to win on Thursday at all costs,’” Majkrzak said.
Moving into the close game against Wayne State, the team fought hard through both halves to get the win on the road. After outscoring Wayne State in the first half 31-20, the Wildcats trailed Wayne State 35-41 in the second half but dug deep and relied on one another for the big win.
Dudek again led the team, scoring 18 points. Guard Julien Smith came away with 14 points, and Kuehl added 12.
“I’m living on cloud nine having Jackson Dudek right now—he’s been phenomenal. And, I mean, the fun part with him is he’s just—he’s never going to change. He is just the same kind of happy, positive, goofy person every day, and he works harder than, you know, everybody else on our team. He always has… He’s just so unique and confident in who he is as a person. I think that’s what Sam, Dylan, and Jackson all have in common—they’re all confident in themselves as people, and their identities in life aren’t defined by basketball,” Majkrzak said.
Next, the team was back at home last weekend, taking on another GLIAC team as the regular season comes to an end. First, the team hosted No. 22-ranked Lake Superior State, who they previously lost to 49-79.
This time the team was unable to get the win, falling to LSSU in a tightly contested game. Ultimately falling to the Lakers 80-74 in overtime.
On Saturday, the team was hopeful to get one last home win this season. The team hosted the No. 13-ranked team, Ferris State. The Wildcats were unable to secure the home victory and fell to the Bulldogs, 91-84.
“The message is we had a chance, and we’re in it,” Majkrzak said when asked about the upcoming weekend of games for the Cats.
This weekend, the team is back on the road, heading to Houghton on Thursday and Roosevelt on Monday.
