Huskies Edge Northwood for 61-60 Road Win

Video: Coach Luke Interview

MIDLAND, Mich. — Kyle Monroe notched a career-high 32 points to help Michigan Tech earn a come-from-behind 61-60 victory at Northwood tonight. The Huskies trailed by nine at halftime, came back to lead by three with six seconds left, then held on through a wild sequence to end the game.

Luke Heller broke a 56-all deadlock with 1:41 to play, scoring high off the glass. Tech got a stop defensively, then added a free throw from Monroe for a 59-56 score.

Northwood's Maurice Jones scored a layup with 53 seconds to pull within one, but the Huskies extended the margin back to three with :16 showing on two Jeff Gregory free throws.

After a 3-pointer miss by the Timberwolves, Gregory grabbed the rebound and was fouled again. He missed both free throws with six seconds left, giving NU life. Jones was fouled near midcourt and was awarded three free throws. He made the first two, but missed the third. The ball went out of bounds to the hosts on their own baseline with 1.1 seconds remaining.

The inbound pass was tipped away by Heller, preserving Tech's one-point win.

"When we do it the Tech way, we're pretty good," said Tech coach Kevin Luke. "We got away from that in the first half, but did the right things in the second half. We got the ball inside to Luke and Kyle (Monroe), and we played outstanding defense."

Northwood (10-9, 6-7 GLIAC) led by as many as 11 in the opening half, aided by Jermaine Myer's 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting. The score was 39-30 at the break.

Tech (7-10, 6-7 GLIAC) still trailed by 11 with 14:52 to go before it began chipping away at the deficit. The Huskies held the Timberwolves to just eight points through the first 12 minutes of the second frame, keeping NU scoreless for a span of 5:30.

Monroe's six straight points pulled the Black and Gold even at 47-all with 9:01 to go.  Northwood went back ahead by four, but Monroe notched another seven consecutive points for a 56-54 lead.

NU tied it on the next possession, but Heller gave Tech the lead for good with 1:41 to play.

Monroe's 32 points came on 11-of-18 field goals and 7-of-8 free throws. It marked the first 30-point game by Tech since last Feb. 7 when Ben Stelzer had 37 vs. Northern Michigan.

Heller added 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting.

Tech finished the game at 44 percent from the field and held the hosts 22 points below their season scoring average.

Michigan Tech will continue its road trip on Saturday (Jan. 30) at Lake Superior State. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.