• Won the most games, 25, in program history

• Won first GLIAC Tournament title since 2000

• Reached first NCAA Division II tournament since 2000

• First NCAA tournament win since 1999

Northern Michigan University's Max Bjorklund goes up for a layup during a Wildcats' basketball game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette. (Photo courtesy NMU)

• Best showing since 1981 team won twice in NCAAs

• Max Bjorklund won GLIAC scoring title at 21.1 ppg

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INDIANAPOLIS — A milestone season had to eventually come to an end, but the Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team certainly had to hope it could extend its run further.

Instead, these Wildcats lost an offensive battle to McKendree 93-83 on Sunday night in the second round of the NCAA Division II national tournament, which was also the semifinals of the Midwest Regional.

Northern MIchigan University's Max Bjorklund dribbles around a defender during a Wildcats' game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette. (Photo courtesy NMU)

Playing in capital of Indiana, home of Midwest No. 1 seed Indianapolis that No. 8 seed McKendree dispatched the previous evening, No. 5 seed NMU fell well behind and played catchup with the Bearcats before running out of gas and ending its season with a 25-8 record.

It was somewhat reminiscent of the first time these teams played, the first game of Northern’s 2022-23 season, a 100-93 victory posted by the Wildcats on Nov. 12 at the Berry Events Center when eventual GLIAC scoring champion Max Bjorklund went off for 38 points by making four 3-pointers and 10 of 11 free throws.

On that day, NMU scored 54 points in the first half and coasted through most of the second half with a double-digit lead that was eroded to two points as time wore down.

This time around, Bjorklund had another big scoring night, putting in 34 points as he hit three triples.

After the Wildcats fell into a deep hole early in the second half, Bjorklund put his teammates on his back, leading them back from a 24-point deficit by scoring 28 of their 40 points during a 17-minute stretch in the second half.

But Northern couldn’t keep McKendree (20-12) of the Great Lakes Valley Conference from also scoring at will. The Bearcats sank nearly 60% from the field (30 of 51), including 46% on 3s (10 of 22) and scored well and often at the free-throw line, making 23 of 27 (85%).

MU’s Milos Vicentic pumped in 31 points, like Bjorklund making three 3s while also swishing 8 of 8 at the line.

Teammate Eric Powell II added 24 points with a perfect shooting night — 8 of 8 from the field, including 6 of 6 triples, to go with 2 of 2 free throws. Two other Bearcats also scored in double figures.

Bjorklund did get scoring help from NMU freshman Max Weisbrod with 18 points as he made four 3s and 4 of 4 free throws. The two Maxes shared team assist honors with four apiece as Weisbrod also had four rebounds.

Northern redshirt freshman Dylan Kuehl added 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds before fouling out with just under four minutes remaining.

Despite the game being tied one time in each half, the Wildcats never had a lead on Sunday. Their first-half tie came early, 2-2, when Kuehl slammed home a dunk 1:08 in. Within the next minute, the Bearcats’ Caleb Zurliene answered with his own slam and McKendree stayed on top for a long stretch.

Northern’s deficit yo-yoed from one point soon after up to 10 points, 22-12, with 11:19 left in the first half, then back to one again, 26-25, after a Brian Parzych 3 with 8:33 to go, then back up to 12, 37-25, after a McKendree 11-0 run.

The Wildcats still trailed by 12 at halftime, 49-37, after Powell hit a buzzer-beating 3 at intermission.

Things quickly went south for the Michigan ‘Cats to open the second half as the Illinois ‘Cats scored the first 12 points to go up 61-37 less than 2 1/2 minutes in.

NMU finally broke through on a Weisbrod 3 with 17:35 to go as Northern began its ascent again. The Wildcats worked steadily to whittle the deficit, getting it under 10 points when Bjorklund made a fast-break jumper with 7:30 to go to make it 73-65.

They finished off the comeback another 4 1/2 minutes later when Carson Smith hit his own fast-break jumper with 3:30 to go to tie it 78-78.

But whether it took too much energy to mount the big comeback or McKendree just hunkered down and worked harder, NMU quickly lost its momentum.

From the point the game was tied, Northern didn’t score again until there was a little under a minute to go. That allowed the Bearcats to rebuild an 86-78 advantage that Bjorklund cut to 86-80 with a pair of free throws with 49 seconds remaining.

Northern tried six 3-pointers in the time left but only made one by Weisbrod with 23 seconds to go that cut the deficit to 89-83.

On McKendree’s side, Vicentic and Zurliene each hit a pair of free throws in the waning seconds to keep the Wildcats at arm’s length.

Bjorklund finished as the GLIAC scoring leader at 21.1 points per game as his 633 points this season is seventh most in NMU men’s history. He also finished his five-year collegiate career, the first two at Bemidji State (Minnesota) before transferring to the Upper Peninsula, with 1,781 points.

McKendree advances to the Midwest Region championship game at 7 p.m. today back in Indianapolis, where the Bearcats will face fellow GVLC foe and Midwest No. 2 seed Missouri-St. Louis, which has taken out the other two GLIAC teams in the NCAA field.

The Tritons are 23-10 after defeating No. 7 Wisconsin-Parkside 85-60 on Saturday afternoon and No. 6 Ferris State 82-68 early Sunday night.

With eight regions in the tournament each sending its winner to the Elite Eight from March 21-25, McKendree is one of only two No. 8 seeds to win a game and the only No. 8 to reach its regional final.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.