WISCONSIN DELLS, WIS. – The Maryville men's basketball team made a second-half run in its season opener but dropped a 91-70 decision to Northern Michigan Friday in the Wisconsin Dells. Henry Sanchez paced the Saints with 20 points, while Evan Palmquist chipped in 17, and Kobe Clark grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Maryville used a 15-4 run in the second half but saw its comeback fall short.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats scored on the opening possession before Lincoln Palbicki and Evan Palmquist converted consecutive baskets to give Maryville a 4-2 lead. NMU answered and regained the advantage, but Preston Clark knocked down a 3-pointer to pull the Saints within 8-7. The Wildcats responded with a 10–2 run, though Eric Hackett's three-point play kept Maryville within single digits.
 
NMU strung together another 10-2 burst to extend its lead. Maryville countered with a Sanchez 3-pointer and a layup by Kobe Clark. Sanchez and Palmquist then scored on back-to-back possessions to trim the deficit to 32-25. The Wildcats settled for a 44-27 halftime lead over the Saints.
 
Maryville made a push early in the second half as Palmquist and Hackett hit jumpers to ignite a run. After an NMU bucket, the Saints scored seven straight points - Sanchez sank two free throws and a 3-pointer, and Palmquist added a layup - to pull within 56-42. Following a Wildcat free throw, Hackett and Palmquist scored to make it 57-46 with 11 minutes left. However, Maryville could not cut the margin to single digits, and the Wildcats held on to win the season opener for both teams. Three-point shooting proved to be the difference as the Wildcats hit 13 to five for the Saints.
 
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points: Henry Sanchez - 20
Rebounds: Kobe Clark - 10
Assists: Kobe Clark - 2
3-Pointers: Henry Sanchez - 3
Steals: Henry Sanchez - 2
Blocked Shots: Kobe Clark and Gabriel Clemmons - 1
 
RECORDS
Maryville: 0-1
Northern Michigan: 1-0
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Saints close out the two-game set in the Wisconsin Dells with a contest Saturday, Nov. 15, versus No. 13 Michigan Tech.