×

Men’s Basketball: Monroe, Huskies top Davenport

Michigan Tech’s Dawson Bilski (14) shoots against Davenport on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (David Archambeau/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech Huskies men’s basketball team improved their record at home to 11-2 on Thursday night with a 73-63 win over the Davenport Panthers.

With the win, the Huskies improved to 18-8 overall and 12-6 in GLIAC play with just two games to go. Tech sits in second place in the GLIAC North Division behind Ferris State.

“It was a very good team win tonight,” said MTU head coach Kevin Luke. “It was a good hard-fought team win. We feel comfortable at home.”

It was Tech’s second win against the Panthers this season. The Huskies won 69-61 in Davenport on Jan. 25.

Luke went on to describe last night’s contest as a game of scoring runs.

“It was a back-and-forth battle where we’d make a run and they would make a run and we’d take the lead and they’d catch up,” he said. “Thankfully we had a big run there at the end coming down the stretch.”

With 5:30 to go in the game, the Huskies led 60-51. However the Panthers (19-9 and 11-7 GLIAC) moved in to make it a six-point game at 57-63. Husky guards Issac Appleby and Kyle Monroe quickly turned it around with threes to put the game at 70-57 and out of reach with the clock winding down for the Panthers.

Luke added that he was quite pleased with his team’s defense. Neither team shot well but the Huskies kept the Panthers out on the perimeter where they shot 38 percent while the Huskies shot 41 percent on the night. The Huskies held the Panthers to just one 3-pointer in 13 attempts. Meanwhile they were 9 of 29 from behind the arc. As well the Huskies scored 10 points on 12 Davenport turnovers.

“We were able to stop their offensive strengths which was big for us,” Luke said. “This was a big game. There was a lot on the line but credit to our guys for keeping their composure and made their free-throws (88.9 percent) in a tough GLIAC game.”

Monroe led the scoring charge for the Huskies with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Appleby followed with 16 points.

Evan Hines led Davenport with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Huskies host Grand Valley State on Saturday.

Davenport 24 39 — 63

Michigan Tech 33 40 — 73

DAVENPORT (63): Pearl 10, Bramhill 5, Rollins 11, Beckford 15, Hines 17, Chatman 4, Pangborn 1. 3 point FG: 1 (Beckford1 ). F: 19 FT: 22-28. Rebounds: 37.

MICHIGAN TECH (73): Monroe 29, Bell 3, Appleby 16, Bilski 6, White 7, Carl 6, Schuller 4, Johnston 2. 3-point FG: 9 (Monroe 1, Bell 1, Appleby 2, Bilski 2 White 1, Carl 2) F: 20. FT: 16-19. Rebounds: 34.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today