MARQUETTE, Mich. -- Trailing 13th-ranked Northern Michigan (18-2 overall, 9-1 GLIAC) by 19 (42-23) at halftime on Saturday, the Wayne State University men's basketball team (8-8 overall, 5-5 GLIAC) was unable to overcome that deficit in the final 20 minutes.  The Wildcats, leading by as many as 26 in the second half, defeated the Warriors by a score of 83-62.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
Wayne State scored the game's first five points, including a Carlos Paul III (Southfield, Mich. / Cornerstone Lincoln-King [Missouri State - West Plains]) layup and Jordan Briggs (Muskegon, Mich.) three-pointer.

However, Northern Michigan countered with a 22-4 run that lasted nearly 10 minutes, and put it ahead by 13 (22-9) with 8:17 to go.

From there until the end of the stanza, the closest the Warriors could get to the Wildcats was 10 at 24-14.  NMU scored 20 points to WSU's 14 in those final eight minutes to push their advantage to 19 at the break, 42-23.

The home team made seven more field goals than its visitors in the first period, 16-of-34 to 9-of-26, or 47.1 percent to 34.6 percent.  That included six Northern Michigan triples (6-of-14) to Wayne State's two (2-of-10).

Second Half
Out of the break, Northern Michigan outscored Wayne State 9-2 through the first three minutes and 32 seconds, which increased the margin to a game-high 26 points (51-25).

The Warriors were able to thin the deficit to as little as 18 (71-53) at the 4:16 mark with a Cooper Craggs trey (Northville, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central [Oakland]), but no further.

TEAM STATS
Wayne State converted at 44.2 percent (23-of-52) from the floor to Northern Michigan's 47.5 percent (29-of-61).  That included 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) from behind the arc for the Wildcats to 6-of-18 (33.3 percent) by the Warriors.  Both teams attempted 19 free throws, including 14 makes for WSU (73.7 percent) and 10 for NMU (52.6 percent).  The away team had the advantage in bench points (27-22) and fast-break scoring (13-2), but the hosts were better in points off turnovers (9-6), second-chance scoring (15-7) and points in the paint (34-26).  Northern Michigan won the rebounding battle by 12 (41-29) with 20 assists to just six turnovers.  Wayne State managed just nine dimes to seven giveaways.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Briggs and Devin Belle (Lyndhurst, Ohio / Pepper Pike Orange [Lincoln Trail C.C. / Lakeland C.C.]) paced Wayne State's scoring column with 16 points and 10 points, respectively.  Those two were among four Warriors with four rebounds, along with Jotham Nweke (Oak Park, Mich. / Detroit Loyola [Macomb C.C.]) and JaKobie Boose (Flint, Mich. / Hamady).  Briggs, Belle and Boose also notched two assists apiece.  Defensively, Jalen Jenkins (Belleville, Mich. [Macomb C.C.]) notched a pair of steals while four players blocked one shot attempt each.

LEADING THE WILDCATS
Three reached double-figure points including Jackson Dudek with 21, Bennett Basich with 15 and Dylan Kuehl with 12.  Dudek was two boards shy of a double-double and Cal Klesmit dished out six dimes.  On the other side of the court, Klesmit (one steal), Brooks Hinson (one steal) and Kuehl (two blocks) were the ringleaders.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will come home to host Purdue Northwest on Thursday night with the opening tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m. inside the Fieldhouse.