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Tech men look to get back on track

David Archambeau/Daily Mining Gazette Michigan Tech’s Kevin Luke coaches against Saginaw Valley State on Feb. 11 at the Wood Gym as Bryan Heath looks on.

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech men can properly have their season summed up as a roller-coaster experience. They lost in heartbreaking fashion (more than once), dominated top teams in the GLIAC and have been what Tech head coach Kevin Luke calls “out-toughed” in games throughout the year.

“The (ups and downs) are what we’re trying to correct,” Luke said. “Am I happy about it? No. We should be gradually climbing right now, and I don’t feel like we have been. 

“There’s a reason for everything, and I’m trying to figure that out right now. We’ll figure it out.”

Now, Tech looks to gain some momentum heading into the GLIAC Tournament with a regular season finale matchup at home against the Northern Michigan Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Wood Gym.

For a team that started 2017 by winning eight of 10, Tech has now lost four of its last five games. The Huskies are coming off a road trip that saw them swept, losing 74-57 to the Grand Valley State Lakers on Feb. 11 and 81-76 to the GLIAC North champion Ferris State Bulldogs on Saturday. 

After being in a position to compete for the conference crown, Tech is now fighting for the chance to host a home GLIAC quarterfinal game. But it would take all of today’s paper and tomorrow’s to list what must happen for Tech to host a tournament game.  With seeds two through six still undecided and separated by just a game entering Thursday, the GLIAC sent out a two-page document highlighting all the tie-breaking scenarios. The Huskies are one of four teams at 12-8, while the Ashland Eagles have an 11-8 league record and Hillsdale Chargers are at 11-9. 

“We got to take care of our business first,” Luke said. “The guys know what’s at stake. I tried once this year to let them know everything that was at stake and I think it was too much for them. We’re just going to keep it simple and play.”

In Tech’s 76-62 win over NMU at Marquette on Jan. 30, the Wildcats went with a five-guard starting lineup. Against the smaller unit, Tech sophomore Kyle Monroe went off, scoring 33 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for a double-double. Monroe converted on 15 of 24 shot attempts. 

“I think they’ll try to mix it up,” Luke said of NMU defending Monroe. “They’re either going to bring a second guy or play zone, and we’ll have to prepare for both.

“Even though Kyle went crazy, when (NMU) went zone, there are a couple adjustments we’re going to make. When they went man, there are still a couple adjustments (Monroe) can do.”

Strangely, NMU has played better on the road, where they are 5-5 opposed to 2-11 at the Berry Events Center. The Wildcats are coming off their best win of the season: an 82-77 victory at GVSU on Saturday. Freshman Sam Taylor scored 24 points and sophomore Naba Eschols added 21 for the Wildcats in the win.

“They played really well. Their guards are getting the job done right now,” Luke said. “It’s going to be a challenge for us. It’ll be a typical, one or two-possession, grind-it-out GLIAC game.”

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