MARQUETTE – To many of the fans in the new Berry Events Center, the game must have looked like an inter-squad scrimmage.
     One team wore the familiar Northern Michigan University home uniforms, while the other team donned the Wildcat road jerseys.
     But the visitors were actually the Saginaw Valley State University men's basketball team, whose uniforms were stolen from their hotel Friday night.
     With that awkward end to a five-game road streak end the Cardinals' first visit to Berry ended in a 104-75 drubbing at the hands of the league-leading Wildcats, who won their eighth straight game.
     The Wildcats started their streak with a win at SVSU and maintained their three-game lead in the North Division, improving to 18-3 overall and 13-2 in the league.
     NMU's season-high point total was fueled by torrid floor shooting, including 63 percent in the first half. The Cats finished the game with 57 percent from the field, but a sizzling 64 percent from the three-point arc (16 of 25).
     A 10-0 Wildcat scoring run produced a 38-25 lead with eight minutes left in the first half, and they closed the period by out-scoring the visitors 19-6 in the final 4:23 for a 60-35 halftime margin.
     SVSU sank only 37.7 percent from the floor for the game and was outrebounded 43-36.
     Senior Jeff Harris (South Bend, IN/St. Joseph) led SVSU with 15 points, while junior Richard Rashad (Inkster/Wayne Memorial) had a career-high 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds off the bench. Senior Rashard Carson (Toledo, OH/Rogers) added 10 points for the Cardinals.
     Cory Brathol led five Wildcats in double figures with a game-high 25 points, while Steve Maselter, scored 15 and a had game-high 9 rebounds before being ejected with two technical fouls.
     SVSU fell to 10-12 overall and 4-11 in the GLIAC North, but still has a glimmer of post-season hopes alive. Known for their late-season hot-streaks to clinch playoff berths, the Cardinals are the only league team to compete in the last four GLIAC tournaments.
     The Cardinals will begin a season-ending four-game home stand with local rival Northwood University Monday night in O'Neill Arena. The game is crucial to both teams as SVSU trails the Timberwolves by two games in the chase for a playoff berth.

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