UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. -- Despite scoring a school-record low 12 points in the first half, Michigan Tech's men's basketball team gained a 50-44 victory on the road at Saginaw Valley State tonight. The Huskies (10-10 overall, 5-6 GLIAC) pumped in 38 second-half points behind 52 percent field goal shooting en route to the season series sweep over the Cardinals.

Tech turned a 22-12 halftime deficit into a one-point lead in the first five minutes of the second half. Tim Strom scored on three straight possessions to put the Huskies on top for the first time in the game, 27-26, at the 14:53 mark.

It was a four-point MTU advantage at the 8:58 mark until Georgio Holt capped a 5-0 spurt. The Huskies sophomore grabbed a nice back door pass from Kevin Maloney, dunked it home, then made a free throw for a three-point play.

SVSU answered with seven consecutive points to cut the gap to 41-39 with 4:01 to play. Richardson hit a tough three-pointer on the next possession to push the margin back to five. The Cardinals made a basket with 2:48 to go for a three-point game and the score remained 44-41 until there were only 26 seconds to go. SVSU's Lawrence Ross made a free throw to cut it to 44-42, then Richardson cashed in on six straight foul shots to ice the game.

"Richardson put us on his back in the second half, and that's what you look for out of your seniors," said head coach Kevin Luke. "We were way to anxious in the first half, and we were able to relax and make some shots in the second half. Our defense came through with a good game as well -- especially to keep us within 10 at halftime."

Richardson finished with 22 points and seven rebounds -- both team highs. Josh Makela added nine points off the bench including the first four points of the second half for Tech.

Saginaw opened the game on a 15-2 streak and held the Huskies to seven points through the first 19:08 of the game. Stephen Folson made a layup and Richardson knocked down a three-pointer within six seconds of each other to get within 22-12 at the intermission.

The Huskies shot 35 percent for the game compared with 29 percent for the hosts. Tech also gained a slight, 39-38 advantage in rebounds.

Michigan Tech will travel to face Northwood on Saturday (Jan. 27) at 3 p.m.