HOUGHTON, Mich. - Despite 22 turnovers and 38 percent field goal shooting, the Michigan Tech men's basketball team took down the league's top team Grand Valley State 53-46 today at the SDC Gym. The Huskies won their fourth straight game overall and first in 10 tries against GVSU by posting a 40-24 rebounding advantage and limiting the Lakers to 34 percent shooting.

The Huskies led by as many as 14 with 7:21 to play before GVSU began a comeback that was starting to look like the Huskies' comeback vs. Ferris State last Thursday (Feb. 11). The Lakers scored 10 straight points before Ali Haidar stopped the run at the foul line with two makes of a 1-and-1 with 3:33 left.

Tech went without a field goal for a nine-minute stretch in the second half, but managed to keep GVSU at bay. The Lakers closed to within 47-44 at under a minute to play before Matt Gaedke made free throw for four-point game. After GV's Nick West missed two free throws, the Huskies worked a perfect fast break. Fowler found a streaking Gaedke for a layup with 31 seconds left and a 50-44 lead. That bucket was Tech's first since Nate Kindt's left-handed jump hook at the 9:27 mark.

Michigan Tech made 3-of-4 free throws in the final moments to snap a nine-game losing streak to the Lakers.

"Our defense was outstanding," said head coach Kevin Luke. "To beat a team like that with 22 turnovers means our defense was great.

"We needed everybody to step up today, and we got it. I'm really proud of the guys."

Grand Valley State opened an 8-3 lead by the first media timeout before the Huskies exploded on a 16-2 run. Senior Georgio Holt buried a pair of 3-pointers during the stretch that left the hosts with a 19-10 lead. GVSU scored five straight points to get back within four before both defenses clamped down. Each team scored only two points in the final 4:20 to leave the score 23-19 at half.

Tech pushed the margin to double figures five minutes into the second stanza on a Fowler 3-pointer and a Gaedke layup. The lead grew to as many as 14 before GVSU began their comeback.

Fowler finished with a team-high 11 points, and was critical defensively on the Lakers' Justin Ringler who tallied 13 points.

Gaedke was the only other Husky in double figures with 10 points. Ali Haidar notched nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Molesworth added seven points and seven boards.

Tech shot 38 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3-point range. The hosts also made 14-of-20 foul shots. GVSU went to the free throw line 25 times and made 17. They were 1-of-8 from behind the 3-point arc.

Grand Valley State (17-6, 13-5 GLIAC) was led in scoring by Nick West's 15 points off the bench.

Michigan Tech (8-15, 7-11 GLIAC) will take its four-game win streak on the road next week to play at Findlay on Thursday (Feb. 18) and Hillsdale on Saturday (Feb. 20).