In the teams’ first time playing each other, the Wildcats used a 21-4 run in just over four minutes during the second half to turn their narrow 46-43 lead into a 67-47 bulge with 10:38 left.

Northern (3-2) used its depth to overwhelm the Muskies down the stretch as Sam Schultz and Casey Verhagen led NMU scorers with 18 points apiece. Teammate CJ Campbell added 14 and Carson Smith 13 as another five players scored six or eight points.

NMU shot quite well, making 59% from the field (38 of 64) and 73% from the free throw line (16 of 22), and also outrebounded their guests from Plymouth, Wisconsin, 37-14. Lakeland had no offensive rebounds.

Schultz pulled down nine rebounds for the third straight game to lead the Wildcats on the glass. He’s been amazingly consistent in that category as he averages 10.6 per game after double-digit performances twice during Northern’s opening weekend.

Northern Michigan University’s Carson Smith, with ball, gets fouled as he drives to the basket during the Wildcats’ game against Lakeland University played at the PEIF gym in Marquette on Wednesday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

NMU was awfully good sharing the ball as they rung up 19 assists, five from Verhagen, four from Smith and three apiece from Max Weisbrod and Najashi Tolefree. The Wildcats also had almost as many steals as turnovers, 10-9, with six Northern players guilty of the larceny.

Lakeland, held under 100 points for the first time this season despite being 0-3, grabbed the lead for most of the game’s first 10 minutes, including a high-water mark of 13-7 with just over three minutes elapsed.

Then when Campbell sank a 3-pointer with 10:58 left in the first half, it gave NMU a 20-18 lead as the Wildcats wouldn’t trail again.

But the Muskies didn’t go away quietly, staying within two possessions the rest of the first half and trailing only 37-33 at intermission.

Northern’s lead was whittled to a single point twice early in the second half, the final time at 42-41 on an Asanja Hunter short jumper with 16:43 left. He and teammate Cam Jaeger each finished with 20 points to lead all scorers.

But that was right around the time the Wildcats caught fire as Northern coach Matt Majkrzak subbed in Verhagen, Campbell, Tolefree and Sam Privet that all but sealed the result.

Over the next 4 1/2 minutes, Verhagen made five layups and sank a free throw as NMU’s lead grew to 20 points, getting to as many as 27 points at the final buzzer sounded after Campbell slammed home a dunk off a fast break with 33 seconds remaining.

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