UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. -- Josh Makela scored 16 points including 11 in the first half to lift the Michigan Tech men's basketball team to a 52-41 triumph over Saginaw Valley State this afternoon at O'Neill Arena. The Huskies got 27 total points from its bench in its third win of the season.

Ed Ross scored the game's first five points to help Tech build up a 29-21 halftime lead. The Huskies ripped the nets in the first half with 59 percent field goal shooting. Makela score eight points on dribble drives to the basket.

An eight-point run by the Cardinals in the second half made the score, 31-29, with 13 minutes left. MTU scored its next six points from the free throw line for a 37-30 advantage five minutes later. SVSU had the margin down to two points, 37-35, at the 4:25 mark before the Huskies scored 10 points on their next four possessions. Radayl Richardson drained a three-pointer and two free throws and Robby Springborn hit a triple and a jumper. MTu made five foul shots in the final minute to seal the win.

Richardson finished with 14 points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals. Springborn tallied nine points, four boards and two steals.

Tech ended up with a 42.5 field goal percentage and held the hosts to 33 percent. The Huskies converted 15-of-22 chances at the foul line compared to six-of-11 by SVSU.


Michigan Tech (3-4, 2-1 GLIAC) will be off until next Saturday (Dec. 17), when it travels to face Findlay in a GLIAC contest.