MARQUETTE, Mich. - Michigan Tech shot 67 percent and Alex Culy buried eight 3-pointers as the Huskies defeated Northern Michigan 109-84 in both teams' Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference openers. The Huskies built up a 54-28 lead by halftime and held off a Wildcat second-half run to improve to 6-1 overall and 1-0 in league play.

Tech made good on nine of its first 11 3-pointers in the game including five off the hand of Culy. The Black and Gold buried 10-of-14 treys in the half and 73 percent of all its field goals for a 26-point halftime lead.

The margin would grow to as many as 30 before NMU started to turn the momentum. The hosts used a full-court press and several made 3-pointers to pull within 80-66 with 10:15 to play. Culy answered with his eighth 3-pointer of the day to push the margin back to 17. A three-point play from Austin Armga two minutes later made it once again a 20-point game.

The Huskies were able to cruise to victory from there.

"Our guys did an awesome job beating their press and knocking down shots," said head coach Kevin Luke. "We played a little faster pace than we wanted, but I'm proud of the way we took what the defense gave us."

Culy finished with a game-high 24 points and eight assists. He was one of five Huskies in double figures in scoring. Ali Haidar posted 21 points by making 8-of-11 field goals. Armga notched 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting as well. Jordan Reetz (15 points) and Mike Hojnacki (14) also reached twin figures.

Tech's three freshmen-Culy, Armga and Reetz-accounted for 59 of the team's 109 points.

NMU (3-3, 0-1 GLIAC) was paced by Raymont McElroy's 16 points and eight assists. The Wildcats shot 42 percent from the field.

The Huskies utilized a 38-20 rebounding advantage and the big shooting percentage discrepancy to come away victorious.

Michigan Tech will remain on the road for its next two GLIAC games. The Huskies travel to Ohio Dominican and Tiffin next Thursday (Dec. 9) and Saturday (Dec. 11), respectively.