Huskies Use Three-Point Shooting For Comeback Win Over Hillsdale

HILLSDALE, Mich. – Junior guard Ben Stelzer buried a school record 10 3-pointers and led the Michigan Tech men's basketball team to an 84-81 win over Hillsdale on Saturday (Dec. 14) afternoon from Jesse Philips Arena. The Huskies battled back from an early 18-3 deficit to move to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the GLIAC.

"This is a tough place to play and be successful," Tech coach Kevin Luke said. "We kept our composure and battled back. These guys didn't quit, and our veterans showed so much leadership after our slow start. The feeling is so great to get this win."

Stelzer finished with a career-high 32 points on the day, making 10-of-13 from deep. He broke Paul Turino's record of nine 3-pointers in a game from February 1993.

"Ben put on a shooting exhibition today," Luke added. "He is a great leader for us and does whatever he has to do for the team, setting a great example."

Austin Armga scored the final eight points for the Huskies, including the go-ahead jumper with 20 seconds left. Sixteen of his 20 points came in the second half.

Tech held a 78-75 lead with 1:39 remaining after a jumper by Armga. Tim Dezelski made 1-of-2 free throws and then Kyle Copper added an old-fashioned three-point play to give Hillsdale a 79-78 lead with 1:11 left.

Argma answered with another jumper to give Tech the lead back. Dezelski then scored a layup with 37 seconds to go for an 81-80 lead. It would be the home team's last points of the day as Armga buried a two-pointer with 20 ticks left and then corralled the defensive rebound after Derek Schell missed a 3-pointer. Armga made a pair of free throws for a three-point margin and Dezelski missed the game-tying three.

Tech went scoreless in the opening 4:55 before Alex Culy made a 3-pointer. The Chargers built their lead to 18-3 until Stelzer made his first shot, a 3-pointer with 12:47 left in the first half.

A 25-6 Tech run gave the Huskies a 28-24 lead with 6:34 remaining in the opening 20 minutes. The Huskies hit eight 3-pointers in the run, and the two teams went into the break knotted up at 38.

Tech made 18 3-pointers on the day and shot 55 percent from beyond the arc. The Huskies were 49 percent (27-for-55) overall from the field and made 12-of-13 (92 percent) from the free throw line.

Armga also had five rebounds and five assists. Culy was the other Husky in double figures with 12 while picking up seven assists and five rebounds. Troy Hecht added nine points and six rebounds while Charter tallied eight points.

Hillsdale (2-3, 0-3 GLIAC) was led in scoring by Dezelski with a game-high 35 points on 13-for-17 shooting. Anthony Manno (12) was also in double figures as the Chargers shot 56 percent (27-for-48) from the field and 17-for-19  (90 percent) from the free throw line.

The Huskies return to the SDC Gym to wrap up non-conference play on Dec. 21, hosting UW-Parkside.