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UNIVERSITY CENTER, MI -- Courtesy:  NMU

Despite a career-high 22 points from sophomore forward Matthew Craggs, the Northern Michigan men’s basketball team fell 67-60 to Saginaw Valley State tonight (Jan. 12) in conference action.

With the loss, NMU falls to 6-8 on the season and 2-5 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. SVSU improves to 6-7 overall and 3-4 in the conference.

NMU took an early eight point, 12-4 lead at the 14:56 mark of the first half with a jumper from senior guard DeAndre Taylor. The Wildcats maintained a comfortable lead throughout most of the first stanza before SVSU took its first lead of the game at 4:22 and went into the half up three, 32-29.

The Cardinals bench came alive in the second half, proving to be the deciding factor in the contest as SVSU outscored NMU 35-0 in bench play, scoring 23 points in the second.

NMU was able to regain a lead at the 13:35 mark with a layup from Taylor and maintained a lead until the midway point when SVSU took over for good.

The Cardinals stretched their lead to double-figures with just 4:46 to go in the game, with the ‘Cats getting no closer than four points.

The ‘Cats were led by Craggs, who scored a career best 22 points and eight rebounds. The sophomore was (9-16) from the field and (2-5) from beyond the arc. Taylor also netted 13 points and 10 boards.

The Cardinals were led by Mike Schaaf with 21 points and six rebounds.

NMU shot 40.7 percent (22-54) from the field and 36.4 percent (4-11) from three-point land.

The Cardinals outrebounded the ‘Cats 36-33.

NMU travels back to the Upper Peninsula for a matinee game at Lake Superior State on Saturday (Jan. 14). Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.