HOUGHTON, Mich. -- Michigan Tech led Gannon, 47-44, with 9:40 to play and did not allow another point in a 58-44 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's basketball triumph at the SDC Gym tonight. The Huskies, which improved to 12-10 overall and 7-6 in the league with the win, kept the Golden Knights from making a field goal for the final 12:46 of the game.

"Great defensive effort," was the summation of Tech Head Coach Kevin Luke. "We made some adjustments in the second half, and we got the defensive stops we needed. I thought we were fluid on offense, too, and that made for a good night."

Tech never trailed in the game, although the visitors kept things interesting. Five straight points from Kevin Maloney gave the Huskies a 30-16 lead at the 6:34 mark of the first half. The Knights proceeded on a 15-2 run to close within a point (32-31) at the half.

A pair of GU free throws tied the game at 37 three minutes into the second stanza. Ed Ross made a free throw, then Radayl Richardson scored five straight points to push the margin to six points with 15:06. A Knights three-pointer at the 12:46 mark was their third and final field goal of the half. It made the score, 45-40.

Two Gannon free throws at the 9:40 mark narrowed the margin to 47-44 before the Huskies closed out the game on an 11-0 run. Richardson had five points and Tim Strom and Robby Springborn scored three each in the final minutes to help Tech win going away.

Gannon was limited to 13 points on 3-of-22 shooting (14 percent) in the second frame. The visitors finished the game at 32 percent. Tech made 43 percent from the field. The Huskies were outrebounded, 36-28, but turned the ball over seven fewer times (15-8).

Strom and Richardson finished with 17 points apiece to pace the Black and Gold. Richardson also added a career-high-tying 10 rebounds. Kris Alpers had six points and a career-high five blocks. Most of those came against GU's Aurimas Truskauskas, who was held to eight points below his average of 14.

Michigan Tech will face Mercyhurst on Saturday (Feb. 3) at the SDC Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Notes: Tech has won three straight games for the first time all season ... Alpers mark of five blocks was one shy of the SDC Gym record ... The double-double for Richardson was his first of the season.