SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. -- Radayl Richardson scored 31 points to carry Michigan Tech to a 63-53 victory at Lake Superior State today in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's hoops. The Huskies hit five second-half three-pointers and converted 19 points off turnovers en route to improving their season record to 13-12.

"This was a huge win for us," said head coach Kevin Luke. "It gives us a chance to control our postseason destiny. Dell (Richardson) had a great game, and other guys gave us good performances as well."

The game featured 12 lead changes, with seven in the first half. The Lakers shot 52 percent in the first frame to lead, 27-26, at the intermission

LSSU grabbed its largest lead of the game, 40-35, with 11:08 to play. Tech answered with four straight points from Richardson before Kevin Maloney drained a three-pointer to tie the game at the 8:00 mark.

Less than a minute later, Lake Superior State's Scott Perkins was whistled for a technical foul. Richardson made one-of-two free throws, then made a triple on the ensuing possession for a 49-45 Huskies advantage. Maloney nailed another three-pointer and Richardson added a jumper before the Lakers could score again.

Richardson iced the game with four straight makes at the free throw line.

Tech shot 40 percent from the field, but committed just six turnovers compared to 13 by the Lakers. LSSU finished at 46 percent from the floor for the game.

Richardson was 11-of-18 from the field and 7-of-8 at the foul line in the game. The 6-3 guard entered the game ranked third in the country in field goal percentage and had his school-record streak of 29 consecutive makes at the charity stripe snapped.

Sophomore Fedrick Bowe, who got his first start of the season, grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds to go with eight points. Sophomore Sean Geary also started his first game of the season and had five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Michigan Tech (13-12, 8-8 GLIAC) will return home to face #7 Grand Valley State on Wednesday (Feb. 14) at 7:30 p.m. The game is one of two regular season tilts left on the 2006-07 schedule.

Notes: Tech sits in third in the GLIAC North Division standings, just one game behind Northern Michigan (9-7) after the Wildcats lost at Ferris State today ... Richardson's 31-point total was his first 30-point game of the season and third of his career ... Tech earned the season split with the Lakers and have now won 12 of the last 13 vs. LSSU.