SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – For the second-straight game, the No. 8 nationally-ranked Michigan Tech men's basketball team needed all 40 minutes to secure a win, with an 84-83 decision holding off Lake Superior State at the Bud Cooper Gymnasium on Saturday.
All-American Marcus Tomashek had a game-high 36 points on 11-18 shooting, adding 8-10 from the free throw line. Ty Fernholz joined Tomashek with double-digit scoring on 4-7 from trey for 12 points as Nate Abel neared a double-double with eight points (3-5) and a team-leading 10 boards.
The Huskies are now winners of five-straight atop the GLIAC with an overall record of 16-2 and a GLIAC standing of 7-1. Lake Superior State drops to 7-9 overall and 2-6 in the loop.
"I saw an All-American playing like a first team All-American make big player after big play and I saw a Lake State team that had an amazing second half like one," said Tech head coach Josh Buettner. "They made adjustments and came out in a game that a lot of teams are going to go away and then I thought we got lucky in the end. I feel fortunate to get out of here with a win but we've got to keep getting better."
The Huskies held a sizable lead of 44-29 through 20 minutes of action backed by Tomashek's 22-point first half shooting 7-9 from the field, 5-6 from beyond the arc and 3-3 from the charity stripe. The next leading scorer for either team was six points from Nino Carter-Smith as the Huskies shot 50 percent from the field, compared to 36.7 percent for the Lakers. The Black & Gold also held a 24-14 advantage in rebounds.
However, that didn't stop the Lakers from making it a game in the second half, as Lake Superior State poured on an impressive 54 points in the second half, erasing a Huskies' lead that ballooned to as many as 17 points.
After trailing since the 17:30 mark in the first half, the Lakers clawed their way back into the game in a back-and-forth contest that saw both teams endure scoring droughts and runs. Free throws by Karter Richards at the 6:47 mark tied the game at 67-all and then less than a minute later at 69-all.
The Huskies were able to keep ahead of the potential comeback attempt with a triple by Fernholz and back-to-back jumpers by Tomashek, making it a five-point lead for the Black & Gold with 1:50 to play (78-73).
The Huskies navigated the Lakers' full-court press and Jesse Napgezek was able to get back-to-back fastbreak baskets, first a layup, then a dunk with 24 seconds to play, to once again lead by five points.
Tomashek made it three points again with two free throws before the Huskies fouled Carter-Smith up by three points, translating into two converted free throws and a one-point affair once again with four seconds to play.
The Huskies coughed up the ball at midcourt on the inbound pass as Harrison Sorrelle incepted the pass and Drew Hess had a quality look from beyond the arc to complete the upset, but the shot was short and the Huskies prevailed 84-83.
Michigan Tech shot 51.9 percent from the field for the game as Lake Superior State shot 53.1 percent in the second half while going 6-13 from trey. The Huskies won the rebounding battle 37-31 as the two teams combined for 44 personal fouls in an always physical GLIAC affair.
The Huskies endured an uncharacteristic 15 turnovers, which LSSU translated into 18 points.
Tomashek now resides seven points shy of the third-most points in program history with 2,082, surpassing fellow All-American and current Michigan Tech head coach Josh Buettner (2,061).
Carter-Smith had 16 of his team-leading 22 points in the second half as Tyler Jamison had a team-leading seven rebounds and two crucial 3-pointers as part of his 14-point outing.
Up Next
The Huskies return to the SDC Gymnasium next weekend, welcoming Wayne State on Thursday and Purdue Northwest Saturday.
