Huskies defense leads team to road win

TIFFIN, Ohio — Michigan Tech held Tiffin to 35 percent shooting and 50 total points in a 64-50 victory at the GIllmor Student Center today in GLIAC men’s basketball. The Huskies improved to 7-3 overall having played eight of their first 10 games on the road.

On a night when senior guard Ben Stelzer did not score in double figures, the Huskies found offensive production from several others. Kyle Stankowski had a team-high 13 points and Jason Hawke added 11. Three more scored eight or more.

The difference in the game was shooting percentage. The Huskies made 44 percent of their shots compared to the 35 percent TU managed. The Black and Gold scored 32 points in each half and held the Dragons to just 23 after halftime.

“It was an awesome defensive performance today,” said Tech coach Kevin Luke. “It was nice to see us get the win on a day when Ben didn’t shoot well. I think this will give us some confidence moving forward.”

Stelzer, who entered the week ranked fourth nationally in scoring at 25.3 points per game, made just two of his 14 field goal attempts including 1-of-10 from behind the arc. He finished with nine points, his lowest output of the season.

The first half was close throughout. Tech led by as many as six, but was only up two in the final minute. Stelzer buried a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded to send the Huskies into halftime up 32-27.

Hawke scored the first four points of the second half to grow the gap to nine. Jordan Chartier made a 3-pointer with 13 minutes to play to push the margin to 10, and it was never closer than nine the rest of the way.

Luke Heller posted six points and 10 rebounds and was named Superior Player of the Game.

Michigan Tech (7-3, 4-2 GLIAC) will play its first home game since Dec. 13 on Thursday (Jan. 8) vs. Lake Erie. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

(Information/Photo Courtesy of MTU Athletics)