Preview: Tech men’s basketball prepares for Northern Michigan
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Northern Michigan | 20 | 31 | 51 |
|
Michigan Tech | 49 | 24 | 73 |
| MICHIGAN TECH vs. Northern Michigan | |
| Date | Tuesday, February 16 |
| Times | 5:30 p.m. EST |
| Location | SDC Gymnasium | Houghton, Michigan |
| TV | TV6 - FOX UP |
| Radio | Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ |
| Online Audio | Pasty.net |
| Video Stream | Friday | Saturday - Stretch Internet Portal |
| Game Notes | MTU vs. Northern Michigan |
| Program | Tuesday |
| Twitter.com/mtumbb | |
| Facebook.com/michigantechmensbasketball | |
| Tech's Record | 8-5 | 8-5 GLIAC (T-1st) |
| NMU's Record | 6-7 | 6-7 GLIAC (T-4th) |
HOUGHTON, Mich. – With just five games remaining in the GLIAC regular season, the Michigan Tech men's basketball team hosts rival Northern Michigan Tuesday, February 16 at 5:30 p.m. inside SDC Gymnasium. The game will be broadcast locally on Fox UP and via radio at Mix 93.5. The Huskies (8-5) fell into a tie for first place in the tight North Division after a pair of road defeats last weekend at Davenport. Northern Michigan (6-7) is tied for fourth. Tech won the first meeting between the two 61-52 in Marquette on January 26.
LAST TIME OUT: Dropping their first road game of the season, the Huskies came up short 73-58 to Davenport Friday afternoon at Davenport Student Center. Michigan Tech trailed by 17 points at halftime and failed to muster a comeback, despite 22 points from junior guard Owen White. Strong shooting by Davenport doomed Michigan Tech for the second straight day Saturday as the Huskies fell 77-70. Davenport shot 59.6-percent and made 10 of 20 tries from beyond the arc. Despite the pair of defeats, Tech had a few noticeable positive takeaways. Carter Johnston entered the weekend fourth in the conference in assists. He posted nine assists Friday and 10 assists Saturday. Houghton freshman Brad Simonsen also made an impression with seven 3-point makes between the two games for 21 points.
FOR THE HUSKIES: Owen White ranks second in the GLIAC with 20.5 points per game. Only Walt Kelser (Ferris State) scores more often (21.0 ppg). Following a career best 10 assists Saturday, Carter Johnston continues to be MTU's top distributor. Johnston averages 5.3 assists per game which ranks first in the GLIAC and tied for 21st in NCAA Division II.
Michigan Tech ranks second in the conference in team defense. The Huskies surrender 63.7 points per game to opponents. MTU scores 65.6 points per game which ranks 10th.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS: Northern Michigan swept Northwood, then lost a pair of games to Grand Valley State in their most recent matchups. Saturday, the Wildcats fell 77-72 after falling behind 17-2 to GVSU in the first half. NMU clawed back to a seven-point deficit by halftime but could not sustain the offensive pressure after the break.
Junior guard Max Bjorklund (Orono, Minnesota) leads the team with 15.0 points per game and a 45.5-percent percentage from the floor. Junior combo guard Dalapo Olayinka (Chicago, Illinois) is also dangerous at 14.5 points per game. Olayinka also takes in the most rebounds at 7.5 RPG.
Matt Majkrzak was named head men's basketball coach in 2019 and guided the team to the GLIAC semifinals following an upset win over top-seed Ferris State. The Wildcats also upset Grand Valley State in Allendale 75-73 during the 2019-20 regular season. NMU finished 13-17, 9-11 GLIAC last year. They were picked to take third in the North Division this fall in the GLIAC pre-season coaches' poll. The Huskies and Wildcats split their season series last year. Each team won on the road.
