HOUGHTON, Mich. -- Tim Strom recorded his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds to lead Michigan Tech past a determined Saginaw Valley State team, 64-56, today at the SDC Gym. Radayl Richardson had 12 of his team-high 17 points after halftime as part of a 47-point second half outburst for the Huskies (5-3 overall, 3-1 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference).

A 9-0 Cardinals run late in the game made it a close affair. The score was 54-51 with two minutes to play after Martell Summers hit a jumpshot.

Tech responded well.

Richardson drove to the bucket for two points after using up most of the shot clock. Robby Springborn then took a charge on defense, and Richardson converted a three-point play to expand the margin back to eight points with 40 seconds to go. The Huskies swished five-of-six free throws in the final 30 ticks to preserve the win.

"We had an outstanding offensive effort in the second half," said head coach Kevin Luke. "The timing wasn't quite there in the first half, but we defended well enough to keep ourselves in it.

Tech trailed a low-scoring opening half, 20-17, after neither team shot better than 25 percent from the field. Josh Makela's acrobatic tip-in 11 and a half minutes into the game finally meant that both squads were in double figures. SVSU had its largest lead of the game at the 3:50 mark of the first half after a Sydney McDaniel three-pointer.

MTU drained three triples -- two from Strom and one from Richardson -- in the first 90 seconds of the second stanza for a quick, six-point lead. Springborn's free throws at the 7:57 mark gave the hosts their first double-digit advantage of the game. Richardson's jumpshot with 5:25 to play made it a 12-point cushion before Saginaw Valley made their run.

Springborn finished with 14 points to join Strom and Richardson in double figures.

Tech shot 44 percent from the floor in the second half to finish the game at 35 percent. The Cardinals were limited to just under 30 percent for the contest. The Huskies held a 45-37 rebounding advantage.

Michigan Tech will host GLIAC South Division favorite Findlay next Saturday (Dec. 16). Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.