UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - After a slow start, the Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball team rallied in the second half of the finale of a two-game series with Northern Michigan University Saturday at the James E. O'Neill Arena.

The Cardinals trailed 37-19 at the half, but a 23-2 run cut the Wildcat lead to just two with 8:16 to play. NMU used a wild 3-point shot from Noah Parcher to reestablish control and held on for a 69-57 win.

The loss drops SVSU to 1-3 overall and 1-3 in the Great Lakes Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Malik Ellison scored seven straight points during the Cardinals' second-half run to pull the home team close. He finished with 17 points in the loss. Delano Smith continued his strong early-season play with 18 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for a double-double, while Myles Belyeu added 13 points and six rebounds.

The Cardinals shot 21-of-65 (32.3 percent) from the field, 3-of-25 (12 percent) from deep and 12-of-14 (85.7 percent) from the line. 

Dolapo Olyinka led the Wildcats (2-2, 2-2 GLIAC) with 18 points, including a late 3-pointer off the glass to close out the win. He added 10 rebounds for a double-double as NMU narrowly outrebounded SVSU 37-36.

The Cardinals remain at home and welcome Ashland University for the first of two games at 5 pm Friday at the James E. O'Neill Arena.