Tech men win revenge game vs. ‘Cats
MARQUETTE — Michigan Tech controlled play on both ends of the floor to defeat Northern Michigan 71-52 at the Berry Events Center tonight. The Huskies generated a 19-point lead by halftime and maintained it to earn the season split with the Wildcats in the regular season finale for both teams.
Tech (19-7, 16-6 GLIAC) shot the ball well all night, finishing at 59 percent. It hit 14-of-22 field goals in the opening half and 12-of-22 after halftime for its best-shooting performance of the season.
Phil Romback’s 3-pointer six minutes into the first half gave Tech its first double-digit lead. Four minutes later, Luke Heller scored five straight points for a 13-point margin. The Huskies ended the half on a 7-0 run for a 38-19 advantage at the intermission.
NMU (9-19, 7-15 GLIAC) pulled within 12 three times in the second half. Tech had the answer each time. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Jason Hawke and Ben Stelzer pushed the margin to 18 with 10 minutes to play, and the Huskies cruised to the win from there.
“It’s nice to get a road win in this place,” said Tech coach Kevin Luke. “We had a chance to make it even with Northern Michigan, and we did that.”
Stelzer posted a game-high 20 points and Romback added 14 more plus a game-high seven rebounds in the victory. Heller (12 points) and Hawke (10) also reached double figures.
Tech held a 28-24 rebounding edge and held NMU to 44 percent from the field.
The Black and Gold finished tied for second in the GLIAC North Division and earned the No. 2 seed in the GLIAC Tournament. Michigan Tech hosts seventh-seeded Walsh in a tournament quarterfinal Wednesday (Mar. 4). Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
(Information Courtesy of MTU Athletics)