PREVIEW: Huskies back in action Thursday night

HOUGHTON, Mich. - Unbeaten in their last three outings, Michigan Tech men's basketball continues its longest homestand of the season Thursday night against Lake Superior State at 7:30 p.m., followed by No. 20 Ferris State Saturday at 2 p.m. 

LAST TIME OUT

• Adam Hobson scored a career high 22 points to help Michigan Tech to a 77-76 win over Northern Michigan Monday night at SDC Gymnasium. The Wildcats connected a series of 3-pointers in the waning minutes of the second half but the Huskies made just enough free throws late to hold off their arch-rival.
• White scored 15 points with a team high seven assists and five rebounds. Trent Bell (13 points) and Eric Carl (11 points) also landed in double figures. Tech shot 49.1-percent (27-55) overall, including 41.4-percent (12-29) from beyond the arc. The Huskies struggled from the free throw line (11-17) at 64.7-percent. Both teams committed 10 turnovers. "It felt great to win against our rivals on our home court," Hobson said. "I think we did a pretty good job making Northern hit tough shots in the first half. We got into a rhythm defensively and then that eventually carried over and our offense got some momentum and we were able to knock down some shots." 

SCOUTING THE LAKERS

• The Laker men picked up a 93-81 victory over Purdue Northwest at home Saturday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium in Sault Ste. Marie. Malek Adams led LSSU with 26 points and the senior shot 9-for-16 from the field with five 3-pointers. 
• Adams was one of five players to reach double figures, including David Wren (13), Kingsley Perkins (11 pts), and Justin Fischer (10 pts).
• The Lakers were picked fourth in the GLIAC North Division Preseason Coaches' Poll. 
• Steve Hettinga is the all-time winningest coach in LSSU basketball history in his 15th season at the head of the program. First team All-GLIAC players Kemon Bassett and Adams returned and the Lakers are a veteran-laden group with six seniors. Seven players also joined the team as freshmen this fall.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

• For the third time this season, Bulldog standout Walt Kelser was named GLIAC North Division Player of the Week. Kelser led FSU to a pair of conference wins this week and averaged 19.5 points against Purdue Northwest and Wisconsin-Parkside as Ferris State improved to 7-1. On the weekend, Kelser shot 51.6-percent from the floor and totaled 39 points, 12 assists, and five steals.
• Ferris State takes on Northern Michigan on Thursday, December 9 in Marquette before traveling to Houghton Saturday.
• Saturday, Ferris State posted 52 second half points to down Wisconsin-Parkside 91-68 in Big Rapids. Kelser tallied 19 points and sophomore Ben Davidson contributed 15. The Bulldogs also received 13 points from senior Dorian Aluyi,12 from Vejas Grazulis, and 11 from Lee Higgins. FSU shot 59-percent from the floor and hit 9 of 15 (60-percent) of shots from long range and 10 of 11 free throws.
• Andy Bronkema has been head coach since June, 2013. The Bulldogs made it to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 2015-18. The Bulldogs finished 9-11 overall and 8-8 in the GLIAC in 2020-21, losing to Ashland in the GLIAC Quarterfinals 100-85.

LEADING SCORER

• After leading the conference with 21.2 points per game last season, senior combo guard Owen White poured in 25 points last Saturday to raise his points total per game to 19.0 through his first six games (fifth in GLIAC).
• White is shooting 53-percent from the field with 14 of 37 3-pointers (37.8-percent). 
• He ranks second on the squad in rebounds (5.3 rpg) and averages 31.1 minutes per game (second). 
• White ranks No. 21 on the Michigan Tech basketball all-time career scoring chart with 1,197 points. He passed former teammate Dawson Bilski (1,192) last week.

SECOND YEAR STANDOUTS

• Second year freshmen Adam Hobson (guard – Stoughton, Wisconsin) and Brad Simonsen (forward – Houghton, Michigan) have expanded their roles after making positive impressions last season. 
• Hobson appeared in 22 games and scored a season high 14 points versus Wisconsin-Parkside on February 27. 
• Simonsen appeared in 10 games for Tech and went 4-for-6 from 3-point range at Davenport on February 13.
• Hobson made a career high 22 points Monday night in a win over Northern Michigan and shot 6-10 from the 3-point arc.

FRESHMEN IN THE FOLD

• The Huskies needed to fill the positions of graduated seniors Dawson Bilski (All-GLIAC Second Team) and Isaac Appleby (2019-20 GLIAC All-Defensive team). True freshmen Dawson Nordgaard (Forward – DePere, Wisconsin) and Nate Abel (Point Guard – Beaver Dam, Wisconsin) joined the squad this fall. Neither have appeared in a game this year.

COACH BUETTNER AT THE HELM

• For 27 seasons, Kevin Luke led the Huskies as head coach. Luke announced his retirement in April after amassing 471 career victories. He is the school's all-time winningest coach. Longtime assistant coach Josh Buettner was named head coach one day later after serving 13 seasons as assistant coach and one as associate head coach. 
• Buettner (a former Husky all-American player) hired Ben Stelzer as assistant coach. Stelzer is another former all-American for the Huskies (2011-15) and played basketball professionally in Spain before beginning his coaching career.

PRESEASON POLL

• Michigan Tech men's basketball was selected to finish first in the GLIAC North Division this season the league announced Tuesday in its preseason coaches' poll. The Huskies begin the regular season as defending North Division Champions with four of five starters returning, including CoSIDA All-American combo guard Owen White.

North

1. Michigan Tech 56 (6)

2. Ferris State 55 (5)

3. Parkside 34

4. Lake Superior State 32

5. Northern Michigan 25

6. Purdue Northwest 23

South

1. Grand Valley State 49 (9)

2. Wayne State 42 (2)

3. Davenport 31

4. Saginaw Valley State 20

5. Northwood 18

HUSKIES AT A GLANCE

• With returning All-American combo guard Owen White and four starters back in the fold for 2021-22, Michigan Tech men's basketball hopes to again reach the NCAA Midwest Region tournament, where they fell 65-62 to Truman State in the Championship game last spring.
• The Huskies finished 15-8 overall, including 12-6 in the GLIAC North Division and took second place in the conference tournament.

LAST YEAR RANKS

• Last year, the Huskies ranked ninth in the conference in scoring (67.9 points), second in defense (63.7 points against), second in 3-point percentage (37.4-percent), and 10th in rebounding (31.3 rebounds).
• Tech begins non-conference play with a pair of games in the Lewis Tournament November 12-13. After facing a trio of Northern Sun opponents (Minnesota Crookston, Minnesota Duluth, and St. Cloud State), the team begins GLIAC action at Northwood on December 4.