Michigan Tech’s Tommy Lucca dribbles past a Northern Michigan defender on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Houghton, Mich. (David Archambeau/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech men’s basketball along with the rest of the university is on Christmas break enjoying time at home with family and friends.

The down time has give head coach Kevin Luke time to reflect on the first six weeks of his team’s 2019-20 campaign.

The Huskies enter the break at 8-3 overall and 2-1 in GLIAC play. They are in a three-way tie for second place in the GLIAC North. Ferris State leads the division at 3-0.

Interestingly, they were in a similar spot last year at this time with a record of 7-5. However, things went downhill from there as they would win just four more games and lose 11 to the end the 2018-19 season at 11-16. Coach Luke doesn’t foresee a similar pattern happening this year due to the hard work his team has put in so far.

“We are a better team this year,” said Luke, now in his 26th season leading the Huskies. “I think we are farther along than we were a year ago. We have a better record and are playing more fluid and with more experience. Last year we started out strong but then ran out of gas in the second half of the season.”

Some highlights from the season so far include two 100-plus point wins in less than two weeks. The Huskies first defeated Finlandia University 119-72 on Dec. 11. Last week they downed Algoma University 117-60. To put that in perspective, the last time the Huskies had scored more than 100 points before these two games was in the 2010 season.

As well, Huskies senior Kyle Monroe notched his 2,000th point against Northwood on Dec. 7. He became just the fourth player in MTU history to pass that mark.

“I am excited with Kyle’s play and a number of other of guys on the team,” Luke said. “I like the

balance I’ve seen as I have had a chance to try some different rotations and combinations. We are going to need the depth coming up down the stretch.”

The Huskies are averaging 81.5 points per game through their first 11 games. They are allowing opponents 65.7 points per game. Tech is shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 39.3 percent beyond the three-point arc. Monroe leads the scoring charge with 19.7 points per game. Junior Dawson Bilski follows him at 15.0 points per game and Owen White is third on the list with 12.6 points per game.

Luke reiterated that while his players are at home and on break, they cannot take a week off from basketball if they want to continue to be successful this season.

“In years past, I’ve always asked the guys to do some conditioning and get in the gym and shoot while they are home,” he said. “They know that they need to do that as well.”

The Huskies return to practices non Monday, Dec. 30 and have just three days to prepare for a GLIAC home game against Wayne State (4-3, 1-2 GLIAC) on Thursday, Jan. 1. They will then play Ashland University (7-4, 0-3 GLIAC) on Saturday Jan. 2 also at home.

“They are two tough clubs and our schedule doesn’t get any easier after that,” Luke said. “But the team is excited about where we are and where we could end up this year.”

Women’s team looking for stability

The Huskies women’s team went into a rough patch in November and early December, losing six of seven games before ending the 2019 portion of the schedule with a two-game win streak with victories over Northwood and rival Northern Michigan.

Tech (4-6, 2-1 GLIAC) returns Thursday, Jan. 2 hosting Wayne State and then Ashland on Jan. 4 at 5:30 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

The games are crucial as Ashland (11-0) is unbeaten and atop the conference standings. A win against Wayne State (7-4, 1-2) would keep the Huskies ahead and help establish stability after suffering two different three-game losing streaks so far.

The Huskies have found scoring from across the lineup, with two players averaging more than 10 points per game and two more near the mark.

Ellie Mackay leads the team averaging 12.9 points per game while Cassidy Trotter is averaging 11.8. Baillie McGirk is averaging nine points per game and Abbie Botz is averaging 8.8.

The Huskies play five road games in January across Wisconsin, Indiana and downstate. Tech visits Parkside and Purdue Northwest before hosting Lake Superior State and Ferris State. Then the Huskies visit Grand Valley State, Davenport and Northwood to close out the month.

In February, the Huskies host four home games against Purdue Northwest, Parkside, Davenport and Grand Valley State.