PREVIEW: Tech returns home Friday and Sunday

HOUGHTON, Mich. - Michigan Tech men's basketball is finally home after six straight away from Houghton this week. They welcome Lake Superior State on Friday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m., followed by Ferris State on Sunday, December 11 at 3 p.m. The Huskies are 2-7 so far, with a young squad.

NOTE FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS

• Michigan Tech basketball season tickets were issued with some incorrect dates and times. Season ticket holders will gain admission to this week's games Friday and Sunday with incorrect tickets as long as the opponent matches up.
• We apologize for the inconvenience and greatly appreciate your support. Please reach out to the SDC Ticket Office with any questions.

FOR THE HUSKIES

• The Huskies have three true freshmen playing more than 20 minutes per game after the graduation of three senior starters last spring.
• Marcus Tomashek (guard, Green Bay, Wis.) is averaging 11.4 points per game (second) and shooting 45.5-percent from the floor.
• Fellow freshman Dan Gherezgher (guard, Brookfield, Wis.), is right behind at 10.2 points per game (third), shooting 41-percent overall.
• Gherezgher broke out for a season-high 27 points in a win over McKendree on November 13.
• The duo has shown offensive upside, balanced by combo guard Josh Terrian (Pewaukee, Wis.), who is the only freshman to start all nine games. Terrian adds physicality and 3.8 rebounds to the lineup.

LAST TIME OUT

• Michigan Tech led by nine at halftime but could not overcome Purdue Northwest in the final minutes and succumbed 73-68 Saturday afternoon at John Friend Court in conference play.
• Despite the loss, Michigan Tech shot 50-percent from the field (25-50). Adam Hobson led the squad with 19 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
• Tyler Robarge helped Tech to a positive start in the post and finished with 12 points after shooting 5-for-6. Purdue Northwest out-rebounded Michigan Tech 30-24 and committed 11 turnovers, compared to 15 for MTU.
• The Huskies went 0-6 on the road trip and have not been back in Houghton since November 18, when they defeated Minnesota Crookston 76-72.

LAST YEAR AGAINST THE LAKERS

• The two teams last met on February 26 in Sault Ste. Marie with Michigan Tech winning 65-56. Tech completed a comeback from a 14-point deficit in the second half. Coach Buettner called it "a gutsy comeback in one of the toughest places in the conference to play". 
• With the win, the Huskies secured their share of first place in the GLIAC North Division, handing them the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. Michigan Tech also swept the season series after winning at SDC Gymnasium last December 70-64.

GLIAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK

• Purdue Northwest senior guard Mikell Cooper helped lead Purdue Northwest to a 1-1 start in conference play. 
• He finished the week averaging 28.0 points per game and averaged 5.5 rebounds per game.
• In a 73-68 win against Michigan Tech on Saturday afternoon, Cooper led the Pride scoring a game-high 30 points and snatched six rebounds.

SCOUTING THE LAKERS (3-4, 2-0)

• LSSU began its GLIAC slate with home wins over Davenport (W, 81-61) and Grand Valley State (W, 79-75 OT) last week.
• Saturday, Caden Ebeling made it to the foul line in overtime and made both free throws late. Tyson Edmondson iced the game with two more free throws and the Lakers survived against GVSU.
• Edmondson (Shelby Twp., Mich.) led the offense with 19 points while Xander Okerlund (Empire, Mich.) tallied 18 with a team-high seven rebounds.
• LSSU received one first place vote and was selected to finish third in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Kemon Bassett (Detroit, Mich.) was named Preseason All-GLIAC First Team.
• Bassett is a senior forward and averages 11.6 points per game (third) along with 6.1 rebounds (first).
• The Lakers suffered a 99-94 defeat in the GLIAC quarterfinals against Northern Michigan. They lost Malek Adams to graduation after he contributed over 25-percent of the teams scoring output.
• LSSU returned 15 players to the rosters. Ebeling's season was cut short a year ago due to injury but he and Bassett combined for more than 14 points per game when healthy.
• Michigan Tech swept the season series in 2021-22, with a 65-56 win most recently at Bud Cooper Gymnasium on February 26.
• Steve Hettinga is head coach and assistant director of athletics in his 16th season at LSSU. He entered the year with a 254-170 all-time mark with the Lakers. 
• The last time the Lakers won the GLIAC Championship was in 2014-15.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS (6-2, 2-0)

• Ferris State dropped a pair of games to GMAC opponents to begin the campaign but has won six straight since.
• The Bulldogs exploded for a 103-54 win over Davenport on Sunday with five players in double-figure scoring.
• Deng Reng led the way with 23 points after going 6-for-7 from the field and 8-for-8 at the free throw line.
• FSU plays Northern Michigan on Friday at 5:30 p.m. before traveling to Houghton.
• After tying the Huskies for first place in the GLIAC North Division last year, Ferris State was picked to top the GLIAC Standings in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The team returned seven letterwinners under 10th year head coach Andy Bronkema.
• The Bulldogs have won 20 or more games seven times in the past eight seasons and reached the NCAA Division II Tournament six of the past eight years, including last year's run to the Region Semifinals.
• FSU graduated four seniors but added three transfers. Solomon Oraegbu sat out last year after previously playing for Wisconsin Parkside. Oraegbu is off to a strong start this season.
• The Bulldogs also lured in Amari Lee from Division II Roberts Wesleyan and Dolapo Olayinka from Northern Michigan last year.