Grand Valley State Dominates Michigan Tech in GLIAC Showdown
The Michigan Tech Huskies men's basketball team faced a tough challenge on the road as they resumed GLIAC play against Grand Valley State at the GVSU Fieldhouse. Unfortunately for the Huskies, they were overwhelmed in the latter stages of the second half, succumbing to a decisive 87-64 defeat on Thursday evening.
Coach Josh Buettner acknowledged Grand Valley State's performance, stating, "Credit Grand Valley tonight. They made key plays in the second half after we cut it down to four. Brad showed what he can do offensively, but as a team, we need to play harder and trust each other on the floor."
The game started with Michigan Tech trailing 9-0 before Pete Calcaterra finally got the Huskies on the board with a jump shot in the paint. Grand Valley State quickly extended their lead to double digits, finishing the first half ahead by 14 points (39-24).
Despite a valiant effort by Michigan Tech, including a 13-3 run at the start of the second half that narrowed the Lakers' lead to four points, they were unable to sustain the momentum. Grand Valley State ultimately secured the victory with a final score that ballooned to a 23-point lead by the end of the game.
The Lakers' dominance was evident in the first-half statistics, where they secured eight offensive rebounds and put several Huskies, particularly William Dunn, in early foul trouble. Dunn led all scorers with 11 points in the first half, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.
Michigan Tech's struggles were further exacerbated by 19 turnovers and 26 fouls, contributing to their downfall.
Despite the team's challenges, Tomashek led three Huskies in double-figure scoring with 14 points. Simonsen recorded his second consecutive 13-point outing, and Gherezgher contributed 11 points. Drew Barrie led the team with five rebounds, including two on the offensive end.
Grand Valley State's Ethan Alderink led all scorers with 16 points, while Trevon Gunter and Kohen Thompson both grabbed a team-high four rebounds.
Looking ahead, the Huskies aim to bounce back as they continue their GLIAC road weekend with a matchup against Davenport on Saturday at 3 p.m.