How did Division II Northwood beat a DI basketball team?
Northwood University guard Brayden Szamrej pushes the ball up court during an exhibition game at Grand Valley State University on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
ALLENDALE, Mich. - Brayden Szamrej said it was a party atmosphere in the locker room after the game.
Hard to blame the Northwood University sophomore and his teammates after they stunned Western Michigan University 85-81 on Thursday, Nov. 6.
“It was a crazy locker room environment for sure,” said Szamrej, a Hudsonville grad. “It was fun.”
How does a Division II basketball team beat a Division I program?
“We came in with a good game plan and knew if we could execute it we would give ourselves a chance at winning,” Szamrej said.
Parker Day led the Timberwolves with 20 points, Julian Lewis 15, Jamison Eklund 13 and Will Young 11.
Northwood University junior Jamison Eklund during an exhibition game at Grand Valley State University on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
“It was exciting,” said Eklund, a junior from Pewamo-Westphalia. “We felt like we executed well throughout the whole game and felt like we deserved to be happy for the night. But knew that the next morning we had to lock in for our next scrimmage against GVSU.”
The game is considered an exhibition on Northwood’s schedule. But WMU considers it a regular-season game, which is a huge blow to the Broncos (1-1).
“I don’t think it’s a bummer that it was an exhibition,” said Szamrej, who had five points and a team-high six assists. “In our eyes it’s still a good team win.”
Jayden Brewer led WMU with 24 points and Jalen Griffin came off the bench for 23 points. Carson Vis, a freshman from South Christian, had nine points in his second career-game. Brady Swartz, a freshman from Northview, had four points and four rebounds.
“We came in with a good game plan and knew if we could execute it we would give ourselves a chance at winning,” Eklund said.
The Timberwolves beat Grand Valley State 90-86 on Friday in another exhibition. The team, which is coached by Tom Church, begins its regular season on Nov. 14 against Ferris State.
Northwood, which is located in Midland, Mich., plays in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). The Timberwolves were picked to finish 11th out of 12 teams in a preseason poll. It is the second time in WMU’s history that it lost to a Division II program. It also lost to Saginaw Valley in 2021.
The Northwood University basketball team during an exhibition game at Grand Valley State University on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. They beat GVSU. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).