Northern Michigan University’s Dylan Kuehl, center, gets fouled as he goes up for a shot during a GLIAC men’s basketball game played against Wisconsin-Parkside at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Dec. 7. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MARQUETTE — A men’s basketball nonconference victory at a neutral site netted that Northern Michigan University team more than just a win — it also meant personal accolades for one of its star players.

And it might just help the Wildcats in their quest for an NCAA Division II Tournament bid in the spring.

NMU defeated Upper Iowa 79-76 at Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, on Saturday in a back-and-forth game that saw the lead change hands 26 times.

Junior forward Dylan Kuehl of Iron Ridge, Wisconsin, was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week after he led Northern scorers with 19 points, making 8 of 11 shots from the field, including a 3-pointer, and both of his free throw attempts. He also pulled down seven rebounds.

The victory not only improved the Wildcats to 7-2, but came against the No. 25 team in the country, which could pad NMU’s resume when it comes tournament time if Northern is seeking an at-large bid in the nationals.

In the latter stages of the game, Kuehl scored 10 of his team’s 12 points in a streak that brought the Wildcats from trailing 62-58 with 8:44 to go into a 70-69 lead with 2:06 left, when he hit four baskets and a pair of free throws.

This was the seventh straight game Kuehl has scored at least a dozen points, made at least five field goals and shot at least 50% from the floor.

He’s scored in double figures in all but one game this season, ranking eighth in the GLIAC in scoring at 15.4 points per game, seventh with 6.6 rebounds a contest and third with a 53.0% field goal percentage.

Kuehl also surpassed the 1,000-point level earlier this season, becoming the 35th Wildcats men’s player to do so.

NMU has one more game to play before enjoying the holiday break, hosting NCAA Division III Northland at 2 p.m. Saturday at Vandament Arena.

Like their conference brethren, the Wildcats have played just two GLIAC games so far and are in a four-way tie for first place at 2-0 with a league weekend right after the new year starts. Northern plays at Davenport on Thursday, Jan. 2, and at Grand Valley State on Saturday, Jan. 4, with the latter also 2-0 in the conference.

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