HOUGHTON, Mich. — Robby Springborn's potential go-ahead 3-pointer from 30 feet away as time expired would have given Michigan Tech a dramatic men's basketball victory over Grand Valley State. Unfortunately, the shot missed to the left, and it was the Lakers exiting the SDC Gym with a 79-77 win tonight.

Springborn and the Huskies battled back from a 10-point deficit in the second half to either close the gap to one or tie the game on seven different occasions. The hosts never could take the lead, even on the final shot which fell a few inches off the mark.

"I feel bad for our guys," said head coach Kevin Luke. "Our effort was really good. We shot well and took care of the ball.

"Rebounds hurt us. I felt like a little more desire rebounding the ball and we'd have won."

Grand Valley State (14-4, 9-4 GLIAC) dominated on the glass by a 38-20 count, but it was perhaps the timing of the rebounds that was the most devastating. The Lakers converted four points off two offensive rebounds in the final 90 seconds that provided the winning margin.

Fedrick Bowe's layup made it a 77-75 score with 1:13 to play. GVSU's Toreau Brown then missed a short shot on the other end. During the scrum for the rebound, the ball was tipped into the basket, and Brown was credited for the offensive rebound and putback.

Tech freshman Mike Hojnacki was fouled on the ensuing possession going for an offensive rebound. He swished both free throws to cut the margin back to two (79-77) at :42 on the clock. The Huskies played straight up defense and got the stop it needed.

Bowe rebounded the GVSU miss and passed to Springborn with five seconds remaining. The senior fought through traffic at midcourt to get a decent look at the potential game-winner.

Springborn finished with 18 points and five assists while fellow senior Sean Geary added 17 points and four assists. Sophomore Don Fowler also reached double figures for the Black and Gold with 13.

Tech shot a solid 48 percent from the floor including a season-high 53 percent from behind the arc. It was also 22-of-30 from the foul stripe (73 percent). GVSU was slightly better in each shooting category — 53 percent from the field, 58 from 3-point range and 24-of-30 (80 percent) from the stripe.

Turnovers were a key for Tech as it committed just seven compared to 15 by the Lakers.

Grand Valley had the hot hand early and jumped out to an 11-point lead in the first seven minutes of the game. The margin was still 11 with 1:51 left in the stanza before Georgio Holt slammed home an alley-oop dunk to cap a 6-0 Huskies' run. The halftime score was 41-34.

Tech came from down 10 in the second half to make it virtually a one-possession game for the final nine minutes.

Michigan Tech (9-9 overall, 6-7 GLIAC) will play again Saturday (Jan. 31). The Huskies will host Ferris State at 3 p.m. at the SDC Gym.