Wayne State defeat Tech Men
Courtesy of MTU Athletics
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Wayne State drained 10 3-pointers in a 70-59 win over the Michigan Tech men’s basketball team Thursday (Jan. 17).
Wayne State built its largest lead of the first half at nine points after a 3-pointer by Bryan Coleman with 9:56 remaining. The Huskies out-scored the Warriors 16-7 over the final 10 minutes to enter halftime tied at 30.
Tech shot 50-percent (11-22) and held Wayne State to 38-percent (11-29) in the first half but, the Warriors made six 3-pointers to stay in the contest. Wayne would finish with 10.
Head coach Kevin Luke said that Wayne State’s seven offensive rebounds was the difference in the second half. WSU scored 12 second chance points in the second.
Turnovers also plagued the Huskies who finished with 12. The Warriors, who tallied just four turnovers, scored 17 points off Tech turnovers.
Tech finished with a 32-16 advantage in points in the paint thanks in large part to senior Ali Haidar who scored a game-high 31 points. He completed the double-double with 10 rebounds, and added three blocks and three assists.
Sophomore Ben Stelzer scored three of Tech’s four 3-pointers to finish with 11 points.
Wayne State out-scored Tech 40-29 over the final 20 minutes.
“It was awesome that we fought back in the first half, but we just broke down in the second,” said head coach Kevin Luke.
Ian Larkin led four Wayne State players in double figures with 18.
Tech (10-5, 7-4) will host Saginaw Valley State Saturday (Jan. 19).