Chartier leads Tech men past Mustangs

MARSHALL, Minn. — Michigan Tech held Southwest Minnesota State 30 points below their season average, and Jordan Chartier scored a game-high 17 points to help the Huskies to a 74-59 victory on the opening night of the SMSU Classic. The Huskies are now 2-0 while dealing the Mustangs (3-2) their second loss.

Tech used a 12-0 run in the opening five minutes to grab a 13-5 lead. SMSU kept itself within seven at the four-minute mark in the half before back-to-back turnovers led to five straight points from Ben Stelzer. The miscues also started a 10-0 Huskies’ run to close the half leading 44-27 at the break.

Michigan Tech turned 12 SMSU turnovers into 19 points in the opening half.

The margin was as large as 24 and never fewer than 15 in the second half as the Huskies cruised to their second straight win over a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponent.

Chartier made 6-of-9 field goals in the game including 5-of-8 from behind the arc. He scored 12 of his 17 points in the first half and also tallied four rebounds and four assists in the game.

Jason Hawke had 14 points with five assists and no turnovers. Stelzer finished with 12 points and five steals.

“It was nice to see Jordan have a nice shooting game,” said Tech coach Kevin Luke. “(Southwest) was helping so much on Ben that it left other guys open. Jordan knocked down his shots, and Jason and Dillon (Gordon) had good games as well.”

Tech got 23 points from its bench. Kyle Stankowski posted nine points, five rebounds a pair of blocks. Gordon notched seven points.

The Mustangs came into the game averaging 89 points and shooting 56 percent from the field. The Huskies held them to 59 points and 43 percent.

Michigan Tech will have a quick turnaround to its next game. The Huskies face Wayne State College (Neb.) in a 5 p.m. (ET) matchup Saturday.

(Information Courtesy of MTU Athletics)