Michigan Tech’s Kyle Monroe shoots over Lewis’ Brandon McCombs (21) and Nick Norton (14) at the Wood Gym. (David Archambeau/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Kyle Monroe missed three games at the start of the 2016 campaign with an ailing ankle injury that plagued him the rest of the season. He still managed to average 20 points per game, but it was evident the injury sapped some of his explosiveness. 

This year, the junior forward is healthy and proving why he has a legitimate chance to be the GLIAC Player of the Year. 

Monroe scored 32 points on 9 of 14 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Huskies to an 87-80 nonconference win over the Lewis Flyers Sunday at the Wood Gym. 

Monroe also added 18 points in Tech’s 82-57 win over the Wisconsin-Parkside Rangers on Saturday for a 2-0 start to the season. 

“I really felt like I got a rhythm going,” Monroe said of his offensive outburst on Sunday. “Once that happens, coach (Kevin Luke) does a good job of finding the hot hand and ensuring we can get everything we can out of him, and tonight, that just happened to be me.”

From 11:33 in the second half to 5:03 remaining, Monroe scored 19 of Tech’s 21 points as the Huskies built a 73-66 lead. His 3 from the right wing tied it at 55, while two running left-handed layups over Lewis defenders off the glass gave Tech a 59-58 advantage. 

“It’s easy to say get the ball to Kyle,” Luke said. “Our guys know to do that in crunch time. He made some, ‘Wow’ (shots). Some of those spin-drives… We kept preaching to get the ball to the rim, because (Lewis) was getting to the rim and getting the calls, which was right, and I wanted us to get to the rim. 

“Kyle just does that. What was really special, the times they doubled him, he found the right outlet and we capitalized.”

But while Monroe is healthy this year, the Huskies are dealing with another early-season injury situation with sophomore point guard Tommy Lucca. After scoring 14 points in 29 minutes on Saturday against Wisconsin-Parkside, Lucca sat out Sunday’s contest and did not dress while appearing to walk with a slight limp. His status going forward is uncertain. 

“We kept him out as a precaution today,” Luke said. “I’m not really sure, to be honest with you, what it is. We’re going to keep checking him. He’s been coming in for treatment for hours already since (Saturday). We’ll see.”

Lucca’s absence allowed redshirt freshman Isaac Appleby to make his first-career start. Appleby finished with 14 points and five assists and knocked down a corner 3 off an assist from Monroe on the game’s first possession to settle himself in. 

“It was a great experience,” Appleby said of his start. “Obviously everyone on this team wants to see Tommy get healthy and get back on the floor, but I was glad I was able to step up and do my job. It’s next man up.”

Lewis made a late push, cutting Tech’s lead to 78-74 with 1:47 left on a layup from junior Delaney Blaylock. 

Then Appleby responded with his two best plays of the afternoon. 

From the left wing, Appleby connected with Grazulis on a pocket pass for a layup as he was fouled. Grazulis added the free throw for his 13th point of the game. 

On Tech’s next possession, Appleby swished a mid-range jumper off the dribble to put Tech ahead 83-76 and squash any potential Lewis comeback.

“I think (Isaac’s) a clutch player,” Luke said. “We knew that he was really good. I’m not surprised with his poise at all. For an inexperienced young player, he has great poise.”

Tech junior Bryan Heath finished with 22 points and gave Tech a 36-35 halftime lead on consecutive 23-foot 3s from the right wing. As a team, Tech shot 10 of 22 from 3 (46 percent) and 29 of 55 overall (53 percent). 

It was the second consecutive solid shooting game for the Huskies. Tech shot 33 of 58 (57 percent) overall against Parkside and was 12 of 24 from 3 (50 percent). 

Senior Dillon Gordon led the Huskies with 20 points against Parkside while converting 6 of 8 attempts from 3-point range. 

“I don’t think we have one guy on the roster who can’t put some points up,” Monroe said. “That makes us, as an offense, difficult to guard. You can’t just leave people wide open since everyone can shoot it… We always just have someone who seems to be on.”

Next, Tech heads to Moorhead, Minnesota with matchups against Southwest Minnesota State on Friday and Minnesota State Moorhead on Saturday.

– – –

Lewis 35 45 — 80

Tech 36 51 — 87

Lewis — Wilson 26, Norton 12, Vukaj 2, Blaylock 21, Bell 3, McCombs 2, Reinhart 6, Neigo 8. F: 21; Fouled out: None; Free throws: 17-21; 3-point field goals: Niego 2, Blaylock 2, Wilson, Norton, Bell. 

Tech — Monroe 32, Grazulis 13, Appleby 14, Uren 3, Heath 22, Gordon 3. F: 19; Fouled out: None; Free throws: 19-22; 3-point field goals: Monroe 4, Heath 3, Appleby 2, Gordon.