PREVIEW: Huskies home against Golden Eagles Friday

HOUGHTON, Mich. - After hosting the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover last weekend, Michigan Tech men's basketball stays in Houghton Friday to welcome Minnesota Crookston at 6 p.m. Adam Hobson (18.0 ppg) anchored the Huskies (1-1) last week and freshman Dan Gherezgher impressed with 15.5 ppg. Fellow freshman Marcus Tomashek (12.5 ppg) also made a strong first impression in his debut.

Fans can listen to the game on Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ and watch online through the Huskies' flosports streaming provider. Michigan Tech will travel to play in the UMSL Tournament on Tuesday, first taking on Maryville at 1 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT

• Michigan Tech bounced back with a 77-67 win over McKendree University Sunday afternoon, supported by freshman Dan Gherezgher, who scored 27 points in the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover Tournament game at SDC Gymnasium. Gherezgher shot 9-for-12 from the floor and made all six free throw attempts to lead the Huskies to a 1-1 non-conference record.
• Tech shot 44-percent overall and out-rebounded the Bearcats 38-34. Brad Simonsen was also effective with 12 points and seven rebounds as five players made it to double-figures. 
• Gherezgher showed off his athleticism in the paint and added three from beyond the arc with three rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench. MTU led 38-34 at halftime, then drew scoreboard separation with triples on consecutive possessions from Gherezgher, Adam Hobson, and Eric Carl to make it 60-49.
• McKendree closed back to a six-point margin but Gherezgher's layup with 2:27 to play and two free throws the next time up the floor put the game out of reach for the visitors.
• Starting guards Marcus Tomashek and Adam Hobson added 11 points apiece and Pete Calcaterra took in a team-high nine rebounds to go with six points off the bench.
• Eric Carl made a pair of threes and finished with 10 points.

FOR THE HUSKIES

• The Huskies are heavy on freshmen this season, but veteran Adam Hobson has been a steady presence early.
• His 18.0 points per game average is fifth best in the GLIAC. 
• Brad Simonsen (Houghton, Michigan) leads the squad with 5.5 rebounds.
• The sophomore forward appeared in 28 games off the bench last season and averaged 4.1 points.
• He scored a season high 12 points against Davenport on February 13.
• Junior Tyler Robarge has increased his minutes (18.0) this season as a starter and has put up 2.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists so far.
• Robarge came off the bench 22 times last winter and totaled 68 points at center.

D2SIDA REGION RANKINGS POLL (Week 1 - 11/14-15/2022)

Receiving Votes: Michigan Tech (4), Findlay (1), Malone (1)

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES

• Crookston overhauled its roster, with 10 new faces this season.
• Tyrese Shines (Jr., G, La Grange, Ill.) is back after being away from the team last year.
• Blaize Sagna (So., G, London, England) was chosen as a 'Player to Watch' in the NSIC Preseason.
• JUCO Transfers include Matthew Allman (R-Jr., G/F, London, England), Jordan Mitchell (R-So., F, Columbus, Ohio), Dezmond Washington (Jr., G/F, Morrilton, Ark.), De'Antray Hughes (Jr., F, New Orleans, La.), and Xzavier Jones (Jr., G/F, Milwaukee, Wis.).
• Division I transfer Pedro Rossi (St. Bonaventure) gives the Golden Eagles size and strength.
• The Golden Eagles were 8-19 a season ago and averaged 13 turnovers per game.
• Head Coach Bryan Beamish is in his first season at the helm, with four years behind him as associate head coach.
• Minnesota Crookston started with losses to Missouri Western State (L, 81-76 OT) and No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State (L, 79-42) at home.
• Northwest Missouri State scored 12 straight points to start the first half and extended the lead to 31-7, then 48-15 at halftime.
• Hughes led the Golden Eagles with seven points and seven rebounds.
• Sagna tallied seven points and two assists.
• Minnesota Crookston was selected to finish 16th (out of 16) in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll. 
• Minnesota topped the poll, with Wayne State College as the favorite in the South Division.

SCOUTING THE SAINTS

• Maryville opened with a 72-61 home win over Tiffin on November 11 but came up short the next night against No. 20 Walsh 72-61.
• In the loss, Ari Jackson sank six 3-pointers at the GMAC/GLVC Crossover Tournament.
• Jackson finished with 18 points.
• JT Morgan paced the Saints with six rebounds.
• Maryville plays Fontbonne University (Nov. 16) and Upper Iowa (Nov. 18) prior to hosting the Huskies on Nov. 22.
• Jesse Shaw is in his third season as head coach after spending four years as an assistant coach at UMSL.
• The Saints finished 12-17 overall in 2021-22, 6-14 in the GLVC.
• The postseason ended in the opening round of the GLVC Tournament at Lewis University (L, 69-61).
• Through two games, Jackson leads the team in points (17.0 ppg).
• Dwayne Vass (14.5 ppg) and Dylan Ingram (11.0 ppg) are also averaging double-figures.