Houghton, Mich. - Northern Michigan sophomore forward Will Carius hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Wildcats the 79-78 regional victory over the Lewis University men's basketball team at the season-opening GLIAC/GLVC Challenge - hosted by Michigan Tech - on Saturday (Nov. 11).
With the win, Northern Michigan improves to 1-0 on the campaign, while the Flyers fall to 0-1 on the season.
Lewis junior swingman
Delaney Blaylock (Wyoming, Mich./Godwin Heights) posted a team-best 22 points, including a pair of go-ahead baskets in the final 44 seconds, and six rebounds. Those baskets, however, were the only field goals that the Flyers would convert over the final five minutes.
Flyer senior forward
Cristen Wilson (Cleveland, Ohio/John Hay) had 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds, while senior forward
Nick Norton (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove North) pitched in 12 points and five boards in the loss. Lewis outrebounded NMU, 39-29.
Lewis shot 50.9% (27-for-53) from the field and 42.9% (6-for-14) from three-point range. Northern Michigan knocked down 38.1% (24-for-63) of its field goal attempts and 36.1% (13-for-36) from beyond the arc.
NMU sophomore guard Sam Taylor scored a game-high 25 points, while junior Isaiah Johnson added 20 points in the Wildcat win.
Lewis returns to action on Sunday (Nov. 12), as the Flyers meet host Michigan Tech for a 4 PM ET tip-off.
