MARQUETTE, Mich. — Dylan Kuehl delivered a Senior Day performance for the ages, pouring in a career-high 41 points to lead Northern Michigan past Wisconsin-Parkside 98-75 on Saturday afternoon at Vandament Arena.

With the win, Northern Michigan (25-5, 16-4 GLIAC) secured the No. 1 seed in the upcoming GLIAC Tournament and clinched a share of the regular-season championship. The loss drops Parkside to 12-16 overall and 6-14 in conference play, eliminating the Rangers from the GLIAC Tournament for the first time in four years and just the second time since joining the league.

The Wildcats never trailed and seized control early, shooting 61% in the first half (19-of-31) to build a 50-39 halftime advantage. Parkside kept pace offensively, knocking down 7-of-10 from 3-point range before the break and shooting 55% overall (12-of-22), but Northern Michigan's efficiency inside and second-chance production created separation.

Kuehl was dominant from the opening tip, finishing 15-of-20 from the field, 4-of-7 from 3-point range and a perfect 7-of-7 at the free-throw line while adding nine rebounds and four assists. He scored 23 points in the first half alone as the Wildcats consistently scored in the paint and in transition. Northern Michigan finished with 46 points in the paint and 21 second-chance points, fueled by a 35-22 rebounding edge and 12 offensive boards.

Parkside responded briefly coming out of halftime. A layup by Fawaz Surakat and a 3-pointer by Luka Mateski trimmed the deficit to single digits early in the second half, but Northern Michigan answered with a 14-4 burst, highlighted by back-to-back 3s from Kuehl, to push the lead back to double figures. The margin grew to as many as 26 midway through the second half as the Wildcats shot 56% after the break (19-of-34).

Mateski led Parkside with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting, hitting both of his 3-point attempts and going 6-of-8 at the free-throw line. Paxton Warden added 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and 3-of-3 at the stripe. Josiah Palmer chipped in 11 points on 3-of-6 from deep, while Surakat contributed seven points and five rebounds. The Rangers shot 52% overall (25-of-48) and 50% from 3 (9-of-18), but managed just one second-chance point and five points off turnovers.

Northern Michigan received additional support from Bennett Basich, who scored 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting, and Brooks Hinson, who added 11 points off the bench and hit 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. The Wildcats finished 38-of-65 from the field (59%), 11-of-26 from 3 (42%) and a perfect 11-of-11 at the free-throw line.

Parkside closes the regular season at 12-16 overall and 6-14 in GLIAC play.

To keep up with Rangers athletics, visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.