Michigan Tech answers with Bell

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HOUGHTON, Mich. – Trent Bell notched a double-double and Owen White scored 25 points in a 90-76 win for Michigan Tech men's basketball over St. Cloud State University Sunday at SDC Gymnasium. Tech bounced back quickly after a defeat Saturday. The team completed a second-half comeback against SCSU to move to 3-2 in non-conference play. 

Bell totaled 19 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in an offensive shootout in Houghton, shooting 6-10 from the field and 6-6 from the free throw line. White led all players in scoring and made 10 of 18 shots with five rebounds, a pair of assists, and one steal.

Eric Carl also contributed 18 points with four 3-pointers and Brad Simonsen provided a first half spark with nine points. Adam Hobson pitched in 11 points, two assists, two blocks, and one steal for MTU. Michigan Tech outscored St. Cloud State 50-31 in the second half to pull away late.

"I know the character of this team and I knew we were going to bring energy and bounce back after yesterday," said head coach Josh Buettner. "They (St. Cloud State) were making shots early and that put us back on our heels, but then the second half was just a tremendous effort. To hold them to 30 points is a testament to our guys digging in. Good defense is one of our staples."

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams made a positive start on offense, exchanging baskets in the opening minutes. St. Cloud State downed 7 of their first 10 shots for a 16-10 advantage by the first media timeout. SCSU maintained around a six-point advantage as the pace of play picked up in the final five minutes of the first half.

White drained two straight triples at the three-minute mark to help MTU back to a four-point deficit but Caleb Donaldson connected 5-8 shots for 11 points in the lane as St. Cloud State took a 46-39 lead to the locker room.

Michigan Tech shot 48-percent in the first half. White collected 11 points and went 3-3 from 3-point range. Caleb Donaldson marked 11 points for SCSU and went 5-8 from the field. St. Cloud State shot 58.6-percent through the opening 20 minutes. 

Tech opened the second half with a 10-3 scoring run, capped by Carl's 3-pointer and White's fadeaway jumper to tie the game 49-49. White gave MTU its first lead (52-51) since the second minute of the contest with a 3-point play in the paint.

Adam Hobson then knocked down a three and Trent Bell put home a dunk the next time down the floor to assist Tech to a six-point margin, 69-63 with 5:22 to play. With four minutes on the clock and the gap up to nine, an intentional foul was called on St. Cloud State's Ryan Bagley. Then a technical foul against the SCSU bench enabled Michigan Tech to put away four free throws and score on their next possession. St. Cloud State was forced to send Tech to the free-throw line late. 

"I know there is a really good team in here," said Buettner. "We just need to keep getting better where we can. We can't let not-making shots affect the rest of our game. We'll keep working hard in practice to eliminate that and improve but today was a positive step."

BY THE NUMBERS

Michigan Tech shot 52.5-percent (31-59) overall, including 42-percent (11-26) from beyond the arc. Tech hauled in 31 rebounds compared to 28 for SCSU and passed 19 assists. Eleven came from Carter Johnston. MTU was also extremely effective at the free throw line (17-18).

Three players made it to double-figures for St. Cloud State, including Donaldson, who finished with 21 points, three rebounds, and one block. Anthony Roberts posted 18 points and Josh Tomasi scored 14 points. Tomasi (a starting forward) encountered foul trouble in the second half and limited his minutes.

St. Cloud State shot 48.2-percent (27-56) and converted 5 of 20 three-pointers (25-percent). SCSU led by as many as 10 at 5:18 of the first half. 

Michigan Tech (3-2, 0-0 GLIAC) begins play in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on Saturday, December 4 at Northwood. The Huskies next home game is Monday, December 6 against Northern Michigan. St. Cloud State (3-4, 0-1 NSIC) continues at University of Minnesota-Crookston December 2.

Trent Bell was named Superior National Bank Superior Player of the Game. His 19 points marked a season-high and first double-double of 2021-22. Bell notched five double-doubles last season for the Huskies. 

"Trent just plays hard," said Buettner. "He hit a three early and then was able to drive to the basket cleanly. He really looked like himself today."

The last time Michigan Tech scored 90 or more points in a game was February 27, 2020 at Northern Michigan (W, 91-61).