The Basics

Score: No. 15 Saginaw Valley 67, Northern Michigan 66
Records: SVSU (20-4, 16-2 GLIAC) | NMU (6-16, 4-14 GLIAC)
Location: James E. O'Neill Jr. Arena - University Center, Mich.

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. -  The 15th-ranked SVSU men's basketball team hosted Northern Michigan University in a GLIAC North Division matchup on Thursday evening. After trailing almost the entire game and by as many as 17 points, the Cardinals overcame the 41-24 halftime deficit to post a strong 43-25 second half edge to come back for a 67-66 victory. 

The Wildcats took the lead at the start of the game, pulling ahead by six (12-6) at the 14:32 minute mark. Garrett Hall and Damon Bozeman each drained a basket, cutting the deficit down to a pair of points at the 12:28 mark. 

The Cardinals kept within 10 points of NMU until the 5:01 minute mark when Northern extended its lead to 11 after Donnell Segers made a layup, bringing the score to 29-18. The Wildcats stayed ahead by double digits for the rest of the half, ending it a game-high 17 points ahead, 41-24.

C.J. Turnage opened the second half with two free throws and a layup, dropping the NMU lead to 13 (41-28) at the 19:19 minute mark. Wade Gelhaus cut the lead further to nine, the lowest since the first half, with a dunk at the 13:58 minute marker. 

The Cardinals kept their momentum up, with Hall adding a layup, followed by a free throw from Bozeman, making it a seven point game (48-41) with 12:41 left in the game. Vincent Adams netted a layup and free throw with 9:10 on the clock, putting Saginaw Valley within just one point of the Wildcats at 54-53.

Saginaw Valley took their first lead of the night, 58-57, after a bucket from Hall with 6:13 showing on the clock. Turnage made a jumper at the 4:09 minute mark and extended the lead to three, 62-59. That marked the largets lead for the home squad in the contest. 

Northern Michigan took back the lead and extended it to four, 66-62, with 54 seconds left.

Turnage answered with a fast break dunk to cut the Northern lead to a pair (66-64) with 43 seconds left. 

With the ball in SVSU's hands, the Cards came down the court and Hall would end up getting off a shot with 2.8 second remaining, finding the bottom of the net from beyond the arc to give the home team a 67-66 lead. 

The Wildcats' Naba Echols attempted a three-point heave from halfcourt, which bounced off the right side of the rim and fell to the court, sealing the one-point victory for the nationally-ranked Cardinals and their second straight 20-win season. 

Inside the Boxscore 

• Turnage led Saginaw Valley with 23 points, shooting 10-of-15 from the field. He added five rebounds, five assists, one steal and a block.
• Hall contributed 14 points, shooting 5-of-6 from the floor and 3-of-3 from the charity stripe. His late triple sealed the victory for SVSU.
• Adams added 13 points, four rebounds and a steal for the Cards in his 23 minutes off the bench.
• Bozeman posted seven points and led the Cardinals in rebounds with six.
• Kellen Smith posted nine assists to set up his teammates nicely.
• Saginaw Valley shot 28-of-63 (44.4%), while the Wildcats were 25-of-47 (53.2%). The Cards hit on just two of their 11 three-point tries while Northern went 8-of-17.
• The Cardinal bench outscored Northern's, 31-3. SV also posted a commanding edge in the paint, 48-28.
• The back-to-back 20-win seasons for Saginaw Valley marks the first time that has happened since the 1984-85 and 85-86 seasons.
• Saginaw Valley State also clinched a home game in the opening quarterfinals round of the 2016 GLIAC Tournament. 
• SV grabbed 32 rebounds and NMU posted 28.

Meijer "Player of the Game"

Hall was named the Meijer "Player of the Game" after his 14 points and game-winning shot for the Cardinals. He added a pair of assists for the team as well. 

Watch Garrett Hall's Game-Winner...

Up Next for SVSU

The Cardinals host Michigan Tech Saturday (Feb. 13) at 3:00 p.m. in another GLIAC North Division matchup. Michigan Tech is 9-12 overall and 8-9 in the GLIAC and are coming of a 66-61 loss at Hillsdale. Saginaw Valley is now at least two games ahead of every team in the GLIAC overall standings following Findlay's loss at Ashland Thursday night.

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