DETROIT -- Michigan Tech battled back from an eight-point second half deficit to tie the game at 71 before falling at Wayne State, 80-74, in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball game tonight. Two Warrior players -- Joe Carr and Kris Krzyminski -- combined for 53 of their points to lead the hosts to victory.

The Huskies blistered the nets in the first half with 67 percent field goal shooting and 62 percent accuracy from behind the three-point arc. They led by just five (40-35) at halftime, however. Wayne State grabbed seven more rebounds in the opening frame -- aided by 12 offensive boards.

A Kevin Maloney jumper from the right baseline gave Tech its biggest lead of the game (51-42) at the 14:35 mark of the second half. WSU answered with a three-pointer each from Carr and Krzyminski that started a 19-2 run over a seven-minute span. The hosts held a 61-53 margin with 7:43 to play

Tech made six straight free throws over the next two minutes, then at the 4:19 mark, Tim Strom drained his fifth three-pointer of the game to trim the margin to 65-64. Two minutes later, Robby Springborn tallied three of his 12 points on a three-point play to finally knot the contest at 69-all. It was tied again at 71 with less than a minute to play when the five-foot-six Carr found an open lane to the basket, scored a lay-up, and was fouled. He made the free throw for a 74-71 WSU lead.

Richardson and Carr both made two foul shots to keep the margin at three before Springborn was fouled with 33 seconds left. He made the first, but missed the second (the team's first and only miss of the game in 19 attempts) for a 76-74 advantage. After WSU split two free throws with :28 remaining, Richardson had the ball and a chance to tie the game with a three-pointer. The Warriors stole the ball, however. They then iced the game at the free throw line, where they were 23-of-29 (79.3 percent) for the contest.

"I thought our kids played a pretty good game," said head coach Kevin Luke. "Those two guys (Carr and Krzyminski) really played well and carried that team. You need to play near flawless to win on the road in this league, and we had a lapse around the 12 minute mark that they capitalized on."

Tech finished the game at 52 percent from the field compared to 45 percent for the Warriors. The hosts held a 31-22 rebounding advantage and turned the ball over five fewer times.

Strom tallied 23 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Huskies. Richardson added 17 points including eight makes in as many attempts at the free throw line. Maloney finished with eight points.

Michigan Tech (9-9, 4-5 GLIAC) will travel to Hillsdale for another matchup against a GLIAC South Division team on Saturday (Jan. 20). Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m