PREVIEW: Huskies take on Lions, Wildcats this week

HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Huskies host Finlandia Wednesday for their final non-conference game and then travel to Northern Michigan Saturday. Both games will be carried on Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ with local television coverage Saturday afternoon (TV6). 

The Huskies fell in a pair of GLIAC road games last weekend. Saginaw Valley State won 68-58 Thursday and Wayne State won 72-65 in overtime Saturday. Marcus Tomashek (14.5) and Dan Gherezgher (12) averaged double figures downstate.

SATURDAY OVERTIME

• Nate Abel gave the Huskies the lead with four seconds left in regulation but Antonio Marshall answered with his own triple at the final horn and Wayne State drew separation in overtime to win 72-65 at Wayne State Fieldhouse.
• Marcus Tomashek paced the Huskies with 17 points (7-15) with Gherezgher (14 pts) and Abel (11 pts) also made it to double-figures.
• WSU outscored Tech 11-4 in overtime to improve to 5-7, 2-3 GLIAC.
• Michigan Tech dropped to 3-11, 1-5 GLIAC as they continue the search for their first road win.
• The Huskies shot 35-percent from the field (26-74), including 36-percent (9-25) from long range.
• Wayne State won the boards battle 47-45 but Tech committed nine turnovers, compared to WSU's 11.
• Abel played a season high minutes off the bench and was an efficient shooter (4-7) with five rebounds and a pair of assists.

HOME SWEET HOME

• Tech has not played at SDC Gymnasium since December 11, when they defeated Ferris State 69-68. While the Huskies have dropped three straight, they have played well at home, where they hold a 3-2 record.
• Last season, the Huskies dominated Finlandia University at the SDC Gym, opening with a 10-0 run, marching to a 32-point lead at halftime, and cruising to a 122-52 victory. Tyler Robarge marked a career high 16 points and six rebounds. 
• MTU also pulled within one assist of a single game program record, with 35, a record still standing since 1987. Seven players collected 10 or more points.

WILLING AND ABEL

• Redshirt freshman Nate Abel has seen his minutes increase over the past five games, ending with a season high 25 minutes off the bench Saturday.
• Abel also marked his first double-digit offensive performance with 11 points on 4 of 7 shooting.
• He went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc. Coach Buettner pointed to Abel's willingness to sacrifice on defense as the main reason for the increased opportunity in an interview on Mix 93.
• He and fellow freshman Josh Terrian took multiple charges in the lane during last week's road trip.

BIG PICTURE

• Tech has been selected for entry in the NCAA Region Tournament two of the last three years and has not finished below .500 overall since 2018-19. 
• In 101 seasons, the squad has made 11 NCAA appearances and won three GLIAC Tournament titles.
• The Huskies were selected fifth in the D2SIDA preseason midwest region rankings poll.

SCOUTING THE LIONS (2-12)

• Finlandia looks to end a nine game losing streak when they cross the canal Wednesday.
• The Lions fell 116-63 to Bethany Lutheran College (Division III) on January 3 in Mankato, Minnesota, and allowed 63 points in the first half to the Vikings.
• Sophomore guard Noah Prestia led the Lions with 12 points and shot 5-for-7.
• Senior guard Danny Zuchak posted 10 points and shot 5-for-13.
• Finlandia is coming off a three win season and has Allen Doherity as head coach, in his second year. Doherity previously served as Finlandia women's basketball assistant coach beginning in 2018.
• The Lions average 69 points per game and allow 98 points to their opponents.
• Junior forward Ilrick Higgins-Moise leads the team with 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
• Ilrick-Higgins (Boynton Beach, Florida) averaged six points, four rebounds in 2021-22, his first season with the team. He posted a season-high 14 points against Michigan Tech on Dec. 15.
• Finlandia competes in the Coast to Coast Conference in Division III.
• Other teams include UC Santa Cruz, Christopher Newport, Mary Washington, Mount Mary, Pratt Institute, Salisbury, and Warren Wilson.
• The teams do not play one another during the regular season, instead meeting for the first time for a postseason tournament.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS (13-3, 5-1)

• Northern Michigan has won more games this season than any other in the GLIAC and is tied atop the standings with Wisconsin Parkside. Each hold a 5-1 mark.
• The Wildcats score 84.0 points per game, which ranks 25th in NCAA Division II. 
• Senior guard Max Bjorklund (Orono, Minnesota) leads the conference at 20.2 points per game. The All-GLIAC second team selection last year has not played since December 18 (Finlandia).
• Sophomore guard Brian Parzych (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) has also been out of the lineup since December 14 but still ranks second on the squad with 14.8 points in 12 starts.
• The Wildcats have eclipsed the 90 point mark five times and bring a seven game win streak into Saturday's tipoff against MTU.
• NMU defeated Wayne State 64-62 in overtime Thursday night in Detroit, then bested Saginaw Valley State 71-68 Saturday. The Cats led 46-26 at halftime and Dylan Kuehl posted a double-double with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks. Redshirt freshman Sam Privet (15 pts), freshman guard Max Weisbrod (11 pts), and redshirt sophomore Carson Smith (10 pts) also made it to double figures.
• The Wildcats finished 18-12 (12-8 GLIAC) last season and fell in the GLIAC Championship to Davenport University after beating Michigan Tech 78-71 in Houghton in the semifinals. The rivals split the regular season series. Each team won in their home building.
• Head Coach Matt Majkrzak is in his fourth season at NMU. He previously coached at Bryant & Stratton College (Wisconsin) and was a top assistant at Bemidji State University for four seasons.
• The Wildcats picked up one position to No. 4 in the D2SIDA Midwest region rankings Monday.