Tech Men’s B-Ball cruises past SVSU

Courtesy of MTU Athletics

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech men’s basketball team out-scored Saginaw Valley State 50-24 in the second half for a 77-54 win Saturday (Jan. 19).

“We weren’t executing our offense in the first half,” said head coach Kevin Luke. “We were much more comfortable in the second half. Ali Haidar got some of our other shooters involved.”

Neither team could create much separation in the first half which featured four ties and three lead changes.

The Huskies opened the second half on a 10-0 run and held the Cardinals scoreless for the first six minutes.

Tech’s lead would grow to as many as 26 with 33 seconds remaining, and 12 different players appeared in the contest for the Black and Gold.

Tech shot 67-percent (10-15) from the field in the second and held Saginaw to 27-percent (8-30).

Senior Ali Haidar scored 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Huskies. The Windsor, Ont., native shot 7-of-10 from the field and was 11-of-12 from the free throw line.

Junior Alex Culy tied his season-high with 17 points, including four 3-pointers. He finished
with six rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block.

Sophomore Ben Stelzer was the third Tech player in double-figures for the Huskies as he finished with 16.

Sophomore Troy Hecht made his first start of the season and finished with five points, one shy of his career-high which he set against SVSU last season. He also grabbed a career-high four rebounds.

Tech shot 29-32 (91-percent) from the free throw line compared to Saginaw who was 5-6 (83-percent).

Brett Beland led SVSU with 14 points.

Tech will play at Northwood Thursday (Jan. 24).