Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Posted: Mar 02, 2020

PREVIEW: Huskies Host Saginaw Valley State to Open GLIAC Tournament

Tyler Robarge attempting a hook shot

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Tues. Mar. 3 • 6:00 p.m. vs Saginaw Valley State
Michigan Tech (20-8) vs Saginaw Valley State (16-12)
Radio: Mix93 FM WKMJ (Mitch Lake)
Video Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mtu/
Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/schedule

2019-20 WEEK 16 IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech closed out the regular season with an impressive 91-61 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win at rival Northern Michigan Thursday night. The Huskies caught fire on offense with 18 triples and the defense locked down the Wildcats offense, holding them to a 33.9 percent shooting performance from the field.

Michigan Tech set the tone early with four three-point buckets to open the contest. Junior Trent Bell delivered the first trey 45 seconds into the action followed by junior Dawson Bilski, Bell again, and then senior Kyle Monroe to make it a 12-2 score with 16:28 to play in the first half. Ben Wolf had the only two points in that stretch for Northern Michigan, sinking two shots at the free throw line. The Huskies eventually led 43-35 at the intermission. The Wildcats closed the gap to 45-43 with 17:03 to go, but the Huskies shifted the momentum completely in their favor three minutes later with a 14-0 run which consumed five additional minutes. Junior Isaac Appleby got it rolling with a layup and the shots kept falling while the defense logged multiple stops.

Senior Kyle Monroe led all scorers Thursday night with 32 points, connecting on 11 of 20 shots from the field, including 6 of 8 from behind the three-point arc. Monroe also collected seven rebounds, dished out three assists, had two steals, and two blocked shots for the Huskies. Bilski followed Monroe with 16 points, sophomore Owen White tossed in 14 points, and Appleby rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points while adding six rebounds and four assists. Bell closed the night with nine points, six rebounds, and four assists as well.

As a team, the Huskies connected on 34 of 55 shots from the field (61.8%), were 18 of 20 from three-point range (90.0%), and 5 for 8 at the free throw line (62.5%). Rebounds were even at 32-32, Tech combined for 19 assists, and had 22 points in the paint. Tech's 18 three-point baskets Thursday night were just two shy of the school record of 20, set against Oakland on February 9, 1995.

MONROE ESTABLISHES NEW GLIAC SCORING RECORD
Michigan Tech senior forward Kyle Monroe established a new Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference career scoring record at the conclusion of Thursday night's 91-61 win in the regular season finale at Northern Michigan. The GLIAC records are based on regular season conference games and during his four-year career, Monroe fired in 1,875 points in those contests. Monroe, who hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin, eclipsed the former record holder Joe Graessle, who scored 1,575 points for Tiffin from 2010-14. Earlier this season, Monroe broke Michigan Tech's all-time career scoring record of 2,360 points which was set by Larry Grimes from 1968-72. Monroe currently has 2,478 career points heading into Tuesday's GLIAC Quarterfinal game against Saginaw Valley State at the SDC Gym. He also owns records for most points in a GLIAC game (53 vs. Grand Valley State on Jan. 23, 2020) and most points in a season (562 in 2017-18). Monroe is also Tech's record holder for most points in a season with 803 in 2017-18. Monroe leads the GLIAC in scoring this year, averaging 23.1 points per game. He ranks among the top 10 in three-pointers (67), free-throw percentage (78.4), free throws (109), total rebounds (193) and steals (41). He is ranked 19th nationally in scoring.

GLIAC TOURNAMENT
Michigan Tech enters the GLIAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed in this year's field. The Huskies host the No. 6 seed Saginaw Valley State in the quarterfinals Tuesday night at the SDC Gym. Ferris State (No. 1 seed), Grand Valley State (No. 2 seed), Northwood (No. 4 seed), Davenport (No. 5 seed), Ashland (No. 7 seed), and Northern Michigan (No. 8 seed) round out the tournament field. The highest remaining seed following the quarterfinal round will host the GLIAC Final Four this Saturday and Sunday.

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 28 games of the season, the Huskies are at or near the top of the GLIAC statistical rankings in a number of categories. Tech is third in the conference in free throw shooting percentage (74.4%) and first in the GLIAC in three-point baskets made per game at 10.6. The Huskies are also first in the GLIAC in overall field goal percentage (49.2%) and first in three-point shooting percentage (43.7%). Tech checks in second in assists per game (17.4) and second in fewest turnovers per game (9.8). The defense is fourth in fewest points allowed per game at 68.9 and are third in blocks at 3.9 each time the team takes the floor. The Huskies are second in the GLIAC in scoring at 79.8 points per game. Monroe leads the GLIAC in scoring at 23.1 points per game, is eighth in rebounding at 6.9 boards per contest, and 10th in free throw shooting percentage (78.4%). Junior Tommy Lucca is second in the conference in assists per game (6.6) and first in assist to turnover ratio (3.8). Four Tech players are ranked in the top seven in three-point shooting percentage with junior Dawson Bilski (49.3%, 1st), freshman Eric Carl (48.3%, 2nd), sophomore Owen White (46.7%, 4th), and junior Trent Bell (44.3%, 6th) landing in that group of players.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Saginaw Valley State owns an overall record of 16-12 and finished the GLIAC schedule with a 10-10 record against conference opponents. The Cardinals fell to Northwood 78-72 at home in their regular season finale, but prior to that had won two straight games against Ashland 71-57 and Wayne State 74-68. Saginaw Valley State is 12-4 at home this year and 4-8 when they go on the road. The Huskies and Cardinals split the season series, which leaves the all-time series tied at 44-44. Tech topped SVSU at home on December 5 79-57 and fell on the road 73-69 February 1. The Cardinals come in averaging 73.1 points per game and are allowing 72.1 points per game to opponents. Myles Belyeu and Malik Ellison power the Cardinals offense with 21.2 and 17.8 points per game scoring averages respectively. Belyeu also hauls down a team high 7.3 rebounds per game while Ellison dishes out 3.4 assists each time he takes the floor. The Cardinals lead the GLIAC in free throw shooting percentage (76.9%).

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
If the Huskies defeat Saginaw Valley State Tuesday night they will advance to the GLIAC Final Four which will be hosted Saturday and Sunday by the highest remaining seed following the four quarterfinal contests.