(Preview) Huskies Battle Wayne State and Davenport in the SDC
Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Thurs. Feb. 22 • 7:30 p.m. vs Wayne St. • Sat. Feb. 24 • vs Davenport
Michigan Tech (13-12, 10-8 GLIAC) vs Wayne State (14-9, 12-6 GLIAC) and Davenport (12-14, 6-12 GLIAC)
Radio: WKMJ 93.5 (Mitch Lake)
Video Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mtu/
Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/schedule
WEEK 13 IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech battled two of the top teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to overtime last week, but unfortunately fell to No. 3 Ferris State 89-84 and Lake Superior State 80-76. The Huskies enter the final week of the regular season with an overall record of 13-12 and 10-8 against conference opponents. The Huskies rallied from a 10-point first half deficit and held a 75-72 lead over the Bulldogs with four seconds to go in regulation, but a Noah King three-point basket from the right corner tied the game with 0.4 seconds left, enabling the Bulldogs to have a chance in the extra frame. Junior Kyle Monroe guided Tech with 35 points and 10 rebounds. On Saturday, Tech forced the extra frame when Monroe tied the game at 62-62 on a pair of free throws with nine seconds left in regulation. However, the Lakes outpaced Tech in overtime 18-14 on their way to the win. Monroe poured in 34 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, securing his eighth double-double of the year. Monroe has scored over 30 points in a game 10 times this year.
SENIOR DAY
Michigan Tech will honor three seniors between games against Davenport in the SDC Gym. Guard Dillon Gordon, forward A.J. Grazulis, and guard Tanner Uren will be recognized for their contributions to the program during their careers at Tech. A banquet honoring the senior classes for both the women's and men's programs will be held in the SDC Gym shortly after the conclusion of the doubleheader.
GLIAC TOURNAMENT PICTURE
Michigan Tech enters the week tied for fifth place in the GLIAC standings and still have a chance to host an upcoming quarterfinal contest in the SDC. The Huskies are deadlocked with Ashland with identical 10-8 records. Northern Michigan currently owns fourth place in the overall standings by one game while Wayne State has a two game lead over Tech for third place. The top four teams in the combined standings will host a quarterfinal game on Wednesday February 28th. The Huskies have clinched a postseason berth in the tournament with seeding for the tourney to be determined following the conclusion of the regular season this weekend.
HUSKIES HOST "BOX OUT CANCER GAME" THURSDAY NIGHT
The Michigan Tech men's and women's basketball programs will host the annual "Box Out Game" this Thursday when Wayne State comes to town for a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader. The Huskies are partnering with the Women Living with Cancer Support Group, who provides support for cancer patients. Each player will have a warm up t-shirt (Women and Men) that will be available for bid online using the women's basketball Facebook page, with a minimum starting bid of $20. The bidding will end at halftime of the men's game. Go to the Michigan Tech basketball roster pages below to find the player whose shirt you would like to bid on. Then go to the women's basketball Facebook page to place your bid.
GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
With 25 games in the books so far this season, the Huskies are ranked near the top of the GLIAC statistical rankings in multiple categories. They are tops in the conference in free throw shooting (78.1%, 8th NCAA II), fewest turnovers per game (9.5, 4th in NCAA II), first in three-point shooting percentage (40.6% 19th NCAA II), and third assist to turnover ratio (1.47 17th NCAA II). Tech is second in three-point field goals made per game (8.4). Monroe is third in the conference with an 8.0 rebounds per game average, leads the GLIAC in points per game (27.0, 2nd in NCAA II), and is second in free throw percentage (85.5%). Appleby is currently sixth in the GLIAC in assist to turnover ratio (2.00).
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Wayne State enters Thursday's game against the Huskies with an overall record of 14-9 and 12-6 in the GLIAC. The Warriors defeated Northwood 87-73 on Saturday and have won six of their last seven contests. Wayne State is currently third in the overall GLIAC rankings and attempting to secure a home game in the upcoming conference tournament quarterfinal round. The Warriors average 69.2 points per game as a team and their defense is second in the GLIAC in fewest points per game allowed to opponents (67.6).
The Warriors have four players averaging nearly 12 or more points per game, led by guard Ronald Booth with a 16.0 ppg scoring clip. Forward Chuck Key fires in 14.1 ppg followed by guard George Spencer and guard Marcus Moore with identical 11.7 ppg scoring averages. Spencer leads the team in rebounding at 6.3 rpg and Moore dishes out a team best 3.8 assists per game.
Michigan Tech defeated Wayne State 76-66 on the road in Detroit back on January 19th. The Huskies built some confidence and momentum early with an 8-2 to run to start the game before outscoring the Warriors 46-32 in the second half to notch the victory. Monroe recorded his game high 34 points by connecting on 9 of 17 shots from the field and 16 of 17 opportunities at the free throw line. Junior Bryan Heath chipped in 14 points that night.
Davenport will take on Northern Michigan in Marquette before traveling to Houghton on Saturday for the regular season finale. The Panthers are 12-14 overall and 6-12 in the GLIAC after picking up a 90-63 win at home over Saginaw Valley State this past Saturday. Davenport leads the conference in steals per game (8.4) and second when it comes to getting to the free throw line with 19.3 attempts per game. Wing player Delano Smith tosses in 13.1 points per game while John McCloud Jr. takes in 6.0 rebounds per contest. Michigan Tech won the first meeting of the season with the Panthers 71-64 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan January 25th. Monroe led all scorers with 41 points and eight rebounds.
COACH LUKE
Kevin Luke, the winningest coach in Michigan Tech basketball history begins his 24th season leading the Huskies in 2017-18. He has earned a plethora of accolades since his appointment as the program's 11th head coach in May of 1994. Luke has guided the Huskies to five Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, earned eight NCAA Tournament berths and won his 300th game in a 74-72 victory over Grand Valley State on March 2, 2011. He reached the 400 win mark on January 19th, 2017 with an 83-72 win over Northwood at home. He owns an impressive 418-268 overall record, including a 276-178 mark in conference play. His winning percentage of .614 ranks as the best in Husky hoop annals.
NEXT UP
The Huskies tip-off the postseason in the GLIAC Tournament which begins on Wednesday February 28th with quarterfinal contest. Tech is still in the running to host a game in the SDC depending on results during the final two regular season games.