Tech Falls to Ky. Wesleyan 69-51 in Men's Hoops

OWENSBORO, Ky. — Kentucky Wesleyan defeated Michigan Tech 69-51 in men's basketball to wrap up play at the Kentucky Wesleyan Classic at the Owensboro Sportscenter today. The Huskies are now 1-2 overall.

The teams played through a low-scoring first half. Tech held KWC to 42 percent shooting and 25 points in the opening half, but managed only 15 points on 33 percent.

The Huskies stayed within 34-27 at the 15-minute mark of the second half as Bryan Heath converted a three-point play. Panthers then went on an 11-0 run over the next five minutes to push the margin to 18. The gap grew to as many as 26 before Kyle Monroe got hot and scored 14 points in the final six minutes.

"We executed our game plan pretty well for 16 or 17 minutes before it got away from us a little bit," said Tech coach Kevin Luke. "We had some good looks that we didn't knock down. 

"We have to pay more attention to the details, but it was a great learning experience. Overall, I thought we got better this weekend, and the pressure that we saw will help us in league play."

Monroe's career-best 26 points came on 9-of-11 field goal shooting with five 3-pointers and three free throws. He added a team-high seven rebounds as well.

Fellow freshman Heath was the only other player in double figures with 11. Dillon Gordon had four assists with just two turnovers in the game and finished the weekend with a 6.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Tech was minus 10 in rebounds and turned the ball over 16 times.

Kentucky Wesleyan finished at 57 percent from the floor and hit 5-of-8 triples in the second half. The Black and Gold finished at 47 percent.

Michigan Tech will return home to open GLIAC play on Thursday (Dec. 3). The Huskies host Malone at the SDC Gym for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.