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PREVIEW: Huskies Travel Downstate to Battle Grand Valley State and Davenport

Eric Carl dribbling the basketball

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Thurs. Jan. 23 • 8:00 p.m. at Grand Valley State • Sat. Jan. 25 • 3 p.m. at Davenport
Michigan Tech (13-4, 7-2 GLIAC) at Grand Valley St. (15-2, 8-1 GLIAC) and Davenport (14-5, 6-3 GLIAC)
Radio: Mix93 FM WKMJ (Kirk McDonnell)
Video Stream: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/schedule
Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/schedule

2019-20 WEEK 10 IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech recorded two outstanding Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference wins against Lake Superior State and No. 8 Ferris State this past week to go to 13-4 overall and 7-2 in the GLIAC. The Huskies are currently tied for first in the GLIAC North Division standings. Tech secured a 102-81 win on Thursday against the Lakers and followed that up with a 102-90 triumph over Ferris State on Saturday.

In Thursday's win, junior Dawson Bilski powered the Huskies attack with a career high 29 points, going 10 of 15 from the field and 7 for 8 from three-point range. He also added five rebounds and one steal to the stat sheet. Junior Trent Bell followed with a season high 19 points and a team best seven rebounds while senior Kyle Monroe tossed in 16 points. Junior Tommy Lucca notched 13 points and dished out seven assists while junior Isaac Appleby rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points in the win. The Huskies connected on 36 of 59 shots from the field (61.0%), marking the fourth time they have made 60 percent or more of their field goals in a game this season. Tech made 18 of 24 attempts from three-point land which was just shy of the school record of 20 set on February 9, 1995 against Oakland.

On Saturday, Monroe guided the Huskies with 28 points and five rebounds followed by Bilski with 21 points and five rebounds of his own. Appleby had a solid game off the bench thanks to 17 points, a team high nine rebounds, and five assists. Lucca rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points and a game high eight assists. Sophomore Owen White chipped in nine points and Bell along with freshman Carl finished with eight points in Tech's victory. As a team, the Huskies fired in 33 of 55 shots from the field (60.0%), were 17 of 24 from three-point land (70.8%), and 19 of 24 at the free throw line (79.2%). Tech players combined for 25 assists and created 18 points off of 10 Ferris State turnovers.

BILSKI NAMED GLIAC NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Michigan Tech junior guard Dawson Bilski was selected as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division Player of the Week, announced by the conference office on Monday. Bilski helped guide the Huskies to a pair of big GLIAC wins over Lake Superior State and No. 8 Ferris State this past week.

Bilski, who hails from Powers, Michigan, averaged 25 points for the two games and poured in a career high 29 points against the Lakers on Thursday. He also scored the Huskies first 14 points in the game on Thursday against Lake Superior State. Bilski connected on 17 of 24 field goals (70.8%) and fired in 11 of his 12 three-point attempts (91.7%) combined for the week. In addition, Bilski averaged five rebounds per game, dished out two combined assists, and came up with two steals. On the season, Bilski is averaging 15.2 points (9th GLIAC), 3.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.

OVER THE CENTURY MARK
The Huskies have now eclipsed the 100-point mark in four different games this season. Tech defeated Finlandia 119-72, Algoma (Ontario) 117-60, Lake Superior State 102-81, and No. 8 Ferris State 102-90. The Huskies are averaging 82.2 points per game entering this week's matchups at Grand Valley State and Davenport. Coming into the year, the last time the Huskies surpassed 100 points was December 4, 2010 when they defeated Northern Michigan on the road 109-84. The school record for most points in a game is 127, set against Northwood on February 4, 1993.

GLIAC PRESEASON POLL
Michigan Tech was picked to finish third in the GLIAC North Division for the third consecutive year, pulling in 45 points and one first place vote in the Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Wednesday by the conference office. Ferris State once again sits atop the North Division with 55 points and six first place votes. Parkside checks in just behind the Bulldogs with 51 points and five first place nods. Lake Superior State is slated to finish fourth with 33 points, Purdue Northwest fifth with 17 points, and Northern Michigan sixth with 15 points.

Over in the South Division, defending GLIAC Champion Davenport University is penciled in to the No. 1 spot with 61 points and 11 of the 12 first place votes. Ashland University is second with 50 points and one first place vote while Grand Valley State holds down the No. 3 position with 39 points. Northwood is fourth with 26 points, Saginaw Valley State is fifth with 24 points, and Wayne State is sixth with 16 points to round out the bottom three teams in the poll.

GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Through the first 17 games of the season, the Huskies are ranked near the top of the GLIAC statistical rankings in a number of categories. Tech is second in the conference in free throw shooting percentage (76.5%) and first in the GLIAC in three-point baskets made per game at 10.2. The Huskies are also first in the GLIAC in overall field goal percentage (49.8%) and first in three-point shooting percentage (42.0%). Tech checks in second in assists per game (19.4) and first in fewest turnovers per game (9.1). The defense is fifth in fewest points allowed per game at 68.9 and are sixth in steals at 6.2 each time the team takes the floor. The Huskies are second in the GLIAC in scoring at 82.2 points per game. Monroe leads the GLIAC in scoring at 21.1 points per game, 11th in rebounding at 6.4 boards per contest, and seventh in free throw shooting percentage (81.8%). Lucca is second in the conference in assists per game (6.9) and assist to turnover ratio (4.2). Four Tech players are ranked in the top six in three-point shooting percent with Eric Carl (55.9%, 1st), Owen White (52.5%), Dawson Bilski (47.3%, 5th), and Trent Bell (45.2%, 6th) in that group of players.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Grand Valley State is 15-2 overall and 8-1 in the GLIAC coming into Thursday's game with the Huskies. The Lakers have won five in a row, including a 75-61 victory at Saginaw Valley State this past Saturday. The Lakers lead the GLIAC in rebounding margin (8.1) and are third in total rebounds per game (38.4). The defense ranks second in holding opponents to a 40.0 percent shooting percentage and third in points per game allowed (66.2). Grand Valley State's offense is sixth in the league in scoring at 74.5 points per night. The Lakers have four players recording double figure point totals, led by Jake Van Tubbergen at 18.2 per game. Van Tubbergen also hauls down a team best 10.2 board per night for the Lakers.

Davenport is 14-5 overall and 6-3 in the GLIAC as they get set to host Northern Michigan on Thursday night. The Panthers have won five in a row as well, with their most recent victory coming at Northwood 70-63 this past Saturday. Davenport is second in three-point percentage at 36.8% and third in three-point baskets made per game (9.4). The Panthers are tops in the GLIAC in steals per game at 8.5 coming in. Chris Rollins paces the team in scoring at 13.3 points each time he takes the floor. Tafari Beckford hauls down a team best 6.8 rebounds per night while adding 10.7 points each game this year.

COACH LUKE
Kevin Luke, the winningest coach in Michigan Tech basketball history is in his 26th season leading the Huskies in 2019-20. 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 433-286 overall record, including a 289-196 mark in conference play. His winning percentage of .602 ranks as the best in Husky hoop annals.

UP NEXT
The Huskies remain on the road next week when they head south to play Northwood and Saginaw Valley State. The Timberwolves are 8-9 overall and 3-6 in the GLIAC going into games at Ashland and Wayne State this week. The Cardinals are 11-6 overall and 5-4 in the conference as they venture to Wayne State and Ashland this week as well.