MARQUETTE, Mich. â€Ã‚“ The Northern Michigan University menâ€Ã‚™s basketballteam started out sluggish against FinlandiaUniversity on Monday night, but finished strong and quick with a win.  The final score of the contest was73-55.  NMU is now 4-1 and Finlandia is still winless at 0-7. 

The â€Ã‚˜Cats were behind almost theentire first half.  It wasnâ€Ã‚™t until MarcoVolcyâ€Ã‚™s two-pointer at 6:27of the first half that NMU would take the lead 22-21 and keep it for the restof the game.  The Wildcats went on a 16-pointrun to finish the half and retire to the locker rooms with a score of 38-24.

NMU shot 51.6 percent (16-31) fromthe floor at the half, while Finlandia shot 29.2percent from the floor.

The Wildcats came out for thesecond half and outscored Finlandia 35-31.

Northern Michiganhad four players score in double-digits for the night.  Antwuan Holt andBilly Hill led the team with 12 points each. Ricky Volcy pitched in 11 points for the Greenand Gold along with Milan Azanjacâ€Ã‚™s 10 points.  R. Volcy was shortof a double-double as he led the team in rebounds with nine.

NMU was 46.2 percent (30-65) fromthe floor at the end of the night.  As ateam the Wildcats shot 53.8 percent (7-13) from the charity line and 26.1percent (6-23) from the three-point arc.

Finlandiafinished the contest shooting 32.7 percent (18-55) from the floor, 55 percent(11-20) from the free throw line and 40 percent (8-20) from the three-pointmark.  NMU had nine more rebounds on thenight than the Lions at 45 to 36. 

NMU will jump into GLIAC play asthey will travel to Houghton to play Michigan Tech on Thursday, December4.  Jump ball will be at 7:30 p.m.