The Basics

Score: No. 21 Saginaw Valley 74, Northwood 68
Records: SVSU (19-4, 15-2 GLIAC) | NU (12-11, 8-9 GLIAC)
Location: James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena - University Center, Mich.

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. -  The 21st-ranked SVSU men's basketball team hosted Northwood in a GLIAC rival match up on Saturday night at SVSU's O'Neill Arena. After a very tight contest, the Cardinals came out with a 74-68 victory in front of a record home crowd. 

With the victory, Saginaw Valley clinched a spot in the 2016 GLIAC Men's Basketball Tournament, sealing the team's second straight postseason appearance.

C.J. Turnage kicked-off a tight first half for the Cardinals, making a layup at the 19:09 mark to mark the game's first score at 2-0 in SVSU's favor.

Neither team was able to get more than a three-point advantage, trading the lead five times until Maurice Jones made a jump shot at the 10:22 minute mark, putting the Timberwolves up by five, 18-13. That would be the most the visitors led by the entire night.

The Cardinals grabbed the lead after back-to-back layups from Vincent Adams, bringing the score to 19-18 with 8:38 left on the clock in the opening period. Saginaw Valley drove its lead up to a period-high of eight (29-21) at the 3:35 mark with an additional five points from Adams, followed by a three-pointer from Caleb Davis and a layup from Kellen Smith. 

Northwood came back to tie it up 32-32 before the half ended after a triple from Jones with 10 seconds left in the half.

SV kicked-off the second half when C.J. Turnage hit on a layup and free throw, bringing the score to 35-32 at the 19:24 minute mark.

Northwood came back to knot the score three times before they took the lead back again, 44-43, at the 15:07 mark after two free throws from Jermaine Myers.

Damon Bozeman made a jump shot at the 13:44 mark to give the Cardinals their largest lead since the first half at 48-44. The Cardinals drove their lead up to a game-high of 10 after making eight unanswered points. by the 10:20 mark. In that mix was a layup from Garrett Hall, giving him over 1,000 points for his career. 

The Timberwolves responded by scoring 11 points to take the lead, 57-56 with 7:43 left in the game.

The teams continued to trade the advantage, staying within two points of each other until Hall made a jumper, followed by a three-pointer, putting the Cardinals ahead by four (68-64) with 1:21 left on the clock.

Hall added a pair of free throws, followed by Bozeman, who put in four of his own, which pushed the home team's lead to six with 19 seconds left in the game. The game ended with the Cardinals pulling out the victory, 74-68.

Inside the Boxscore 

• Bozeman led the Cardinals with 15 points, going 4-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-8 in free throws. He posted a game-high eight rebounds as well.
• Adams contributed 14 points, four rebounds and one assist in the victory.
• Turnage had 11 points and four rebounds, adding a season-best six assists for SVSU.
• Davis added 10 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one steal. Wade Gelhaus recorded eight points and six rebounds.
• Hall netted nine points, seven boards and a pair of helpers while becoming the third SVSU player this year to surpass the 1,000-point plateau.
• The Cardinals were 26-of-58 (44.8%) from the floor while Northwood shot 40.3% (25-of-62).
• The Timberwolves shot a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line and SVSU was 16-of-28 (57.1%).
• Saginaw Valley's bench outscored Northwood's by a 36-19 margin and the Cards owned the edge on the glass as well, 46-31.
• The game had 13 ties and 16 lead changes.
• The Cards held a narrow edge in the paint as well, posting a 32-28 advantage.
• Jones led Northwood with a game-high 23 points, five assists and three boards.

Meijer "Player of the Game"

Adams earned Meijer "Player of the Game" honors after his 14 points, going 6-of-7 shooting off the bench with four rebounds and an assist.

From Head Coach Randy Baruth...

Up Next for SVSU

The Cardinals host Northern Michigan University Thursday (Feb. 11) at 8:00 p.m. in another GLIAC North Division matchup. Northern Michigan is 5-15 overall and 4-13 in the GLIAC and are coming of a 70-61 home loss to Ferris State.

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