PREVIEW: Huskies Travel Downstate to Battle No. 16 Davenport and Grand Valley State

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Thurs. Feb. 21 • 7:30 p.m. at Davenport • Sat. Feb. 23 • 3 p.m. at Grand Valley St.
Michigan Tech (10-13, 6-11 GLIAC) at No. 16 Davenport (22-3, 14-3 GLIAC) and Grand Valley St. (14-11, 8-9 GLIAC)
Radio: WKMJ Mix 93 FM (Kirk McDonnell)
Video Stream: http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/schedule
Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mbkb/2018-19/schedule

WEEK 14 IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech recorded a split against two very good Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams last week at Lake Superior State and Ferris State. The Huskies notched a key 74-71 win at Lake Superior State Thursday night to begin the week and kept themselves alive in the hunt for a playoff spot in the upcoming GLIAC Tournament. It was a back and forth battle for much of the night with the Huskies holding a 33-31 lead the break. Tech never trailed in the second half, but withstood a late charge by the Lakers to secure the win. Senior Bryan Heath guided the Huskies with 18 points, connecting on 7 of 13 shot attempts from the field. He also hauled down four rebounds and produced three steals on the defensive end of the floor. Freshman Jake Witt matched a season high with 14 points, five rebounds, and three blocked shots while sophomore Dawson Bilski contributed 13 points and a team high four assists in the victory. Sophomore Isaac Appleby rounded out the double digit scorers with 12 points, going 5 for 7 from the floor.

The Huskies fell behind by double digits early at Ferris State in Saturday, but battled back to draw to within three points with just under 14 minutes to go in the second half. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs regrouped with a 10-0 scoring run to regain the momentum and pull away during the final minutes of the second frame. Bilski powered the Huskies offense with 14 points followed by eight points from sophomore Trent Bell and senior KC Borseth. For Borseth, it was a career high in points which was produced on a 3 of 6 shooting effort from the field. Freshman Owen White wrapped up the day with seven points and shared the team lead in rebounds with Appleby at six.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Huskies are about to embark on their second consecutive road trip during the next to last week of the regular season. Tech returns home next Thursday to face the Wildcats on Senior Day at the SDC Gym. So far this year, the Huskies are 7-2 when leading at halftime and have also been able to overcome some deficits to pull out victories, including an 18 point rally for a 75-67 win at Purdue Northwest on January 31st. The Huskies are 8-3 in games where they connect on 40-50 percent of their field goals, 7-3 when they record 70 or more points, and 9-4 when holding teams to less than 70 points. Tech boasts a 9-3 record in night games and have opened weeks with strong performances.

GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Through 24 games this season, the Huskies are near the top of the GLIAC statistical rankings in a few different categories. The Huskies continue to rank in the top half of the conference in free throw percentage, checking in third this week at 74.6%. The Huskies are second in the conference in blocked shots per game (4.4) while also ranking second in the GLIAC in points allowed per game (67.5). The Huskies are seventh in total rebounds per contest at 36.4, fifth in rebounding margin (2.0), third in the league at holding opponents combined field goal percentage to 42.3%, and fourth in opponents' three-point percentage at 34.9%. Bilski is 19th in the GLIAC in scoring at 13.4 points per game, Bell is 11th in the conference in rebounds per game (6.4), and sophomore Isaac Appleby is fifth in all of the GLIAC with a 3.7 assists per game average. Freshman Jake Witt is fifth in the GLIAC in blocks per game average (1.3). Heath is tops in the statistical rankings for free throw shooting percentage coming into this week at 89.9%.

SERIES HISTORY VS DAVENPORT AND GRAND VALLEY STATE
Davenport has the early edge 2-1 in the all-time series with Tech going into Thursday's matchup. The Huskies are looking to snap a two game losing skid to the Panthers which includes a 77-68 loss in Houghton on January 19th. Tech had constructed an 11-point lead before Davenport stormed back for the win. Heath guided the Huskies in scoring that day with 20 points. Tech's victory in the series was a 71-64 decision on January 18th, 2018 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan so Thursday's game will be the first between the two clubs at Davenport's home facility.

Grand Valley State owns a 44-38 advantage in the all-time series with Tech heading into Saturday's contest, but the Huskies have had a sustained run of success recently. Tech has claimed wins in three straight meetings while also coming away on top in 11 of the last 13. The two sides met for the first time in 2018-19 on January 17th in Houghton. The Huskies prevailed that night 91-87 in overtime, the seventh occasion in the series where extra time was needed. The Huskies outscored the Lakers 47-35 in the second half to force the extra frame and then held on to secure a key league win. Appleby powered the Huskies' offense with a career high 21 points and nine rebounds. Tech is two games behind GVSU for the final playoff spot in the GLIAC Tournament going into the week.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Davenport is 22-3 overall,14-3 in the GLIAC, and ranked 16th in the latest NABC Top 25 Coaches' Poll as they get set to face the Huskies on Thursday night. The Panthers are currently riding a nine game winning streak that includes a 75-68 road win against Saginaw Valley State this past Saturday. Davenport is 11-1 at home, but has also played well on the road with a combined record of 11-2 in neutral site and true road games. The Panthers open week 15 ranked second in the GLIAC in scoring at 84.3 points per game and the defense is solid too, limiting opposing teams to just 71.0 points per game. The defense leads the league in steals per game at 9.6 and is first in free throws made per game at 16.2. The Panthers have five players scoring over 10 points per game, guided by Dyllon Hudson-Emory with 17.8 points each time he takes the floor. Hudson-Emory is also the top rebounder on the club with a 6.2 boards per game average coming into Thursday. Avery Hudson follows with 16.3 points per game and distributes a team best 5.0 assists per outing.

Grand Valley State is 14-11 overall and 8-9 in the GLIAC as they prepare to host Northern Michigan Thursday before entertaining the Huskies on Saturday. The Lakers have secured wins in each of their last two games, including a 67-63 victory at Northwood this past Saturday. Grand Valley State's offense is fourth in the GLIAC in scoring at 79.0 points per game while the defense limits opponents to a 41.5 percent shooting clip from the field, second best in the conference. Hunter Hale fires in a team high 17.6 points per game followed by Jake Van Tubbergen at 14.6 points per night.  Van Tubbergen reels in a team best 6.9 rebounds per game while Jeremiah Ferguson deals out a team leading 3.6 assists per game. Ferguson also can get to the basket and put points on the board himself as evidenced by a 13.4 points per game scoring average.

COACH LUKE
Kevin Luke, the winningest coach in Michigan Tech basketball history is in his 25th season leading the Huskies in 2018-19. 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 422-270 overall record, including a 283-182 mark in conference play. His winning percentage of .610 ranks as the best in Husky hoop annals.
 
NEXT UP
The Huskies return home to close out the regular season in the SDC Gym against rival Northern Michigan. It will also be Senior Day with the Huskies honoring their senior class in between games. The Wildcats also play Davenport and Grand Valley State on the road this week.