Northern Michigan University’s Cal Klesmit, right, puts up a shot while Roosevelt’s Ramean Hinton defends during their college men’s basketball game played at Vandament Arena in Marquette on Jan. 13. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

SAULT STE. MARIE — The Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team took a hit to its pride with a pair of losses on the road over the extended weekend, including a humbling 79-49 setback at No. 14 Lake Superior State on Saturday afternoon.

But it could’ve been worse for the Wildcats, who despite losing to a pair of nationally ranked teams — they also fell 85-79 at No. 8 Ferris State on Thursday — remain just two games out of the GLIAC lead.

That’s now become a two-game deficit to the tri-leaders — LSSU, Ferris and Michigan Tech — after the Huskies knocked off former top-dog Ferris 88-85 also Saturday.

All those teams are 8-2 in the GLIAC while NMU is 6-4, along with 12-6 overall. However, the conference season is only half over with Northern yet to face each and every one of the 10 other teams again down the home stretch.

While the Wildcats are in fourth place, they are sharing it with two teams that could become three later today. Grand Valley State and Wisconsin-Parkside are also 6-4, and Wayne State will have that record if the Warriors knock off Roosevelt tonight.

On Saturday, Northern’s strongest suit all season, its defense, didn’t fare well vs. the Lakers. LSSU shot nearly 50% from the field, 47.3% to be exact (26 of 55), and did make exactly half its 3-pointers (15 of 30).

Northern, meanwhile, struggled making less than a third of its shots, 32.1% on 18 of 56, and a paltry 16% on triples (4 of 25).

Sam Privet led NMU scorers with 13 points, hitting 5 of 7 shots including 1 of 2 on treys. He also shared team rebounding honors with six as he didn’t commit a turnover in 28 minutes court time.

Dylan Kuehl added 10 points, also sharing the top rebounding spot with six. Derek Merwick had eight points, hitting both his triple tries to go with two rebounds, and like Privet, had no turnovers in 28 minutes.

Tyson Edmondson broke loose for the Lake State, scoring a game-high 23 points as he sank four 3s and was 3 of 3 on free throws. Hunter Soper also hit four triples for 13 points as he had seven rebounds and five assists.

The home team raced out to an 8-0 lead in the first two minutes, which included a 3 each by Edmondson and Roper.

Though the Wildcats never pulled even, they did get within a single point twice, 14-13 on a Cal Klesmit 3 and 17-16 on a Merwick triple, the last one with 10:35 left in the first half.

But NMU went cold after that, Lake State going on an 18-0 run over the next six minutes to build an insurmountable 35-16 cushion 4:50 before halftime.

Trailing 45-27 at halftime, NMU pulled within 16 about a minute into the second half on a Merwick layup. But they would get no closer, with the Lakers building their lead to as many as 35 points, 73-38, with 6:46 to go on a Soper triple.

The Wildcats return home for a pair of games this week. They host fellow fourth-place GVSU at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, then take on last-place Davenport at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing the game. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.