The Gremlins (8-8) started hot, fueled by an electric gym, and although Hancock (1-13) scrapped throughout, the Bulldogs were never really able to make this WestPAC matchup very close.

The final difference was slimmer than the season’s first meeting between these two squads though. Houghton won 88-56 in Hancock on Dec. 19.

Houghton head coach Jared Lawson called the game time atmosphere “unbelievable” after the game.

“It gives you almost a migraine instantly because you’re not used to (so much crowd noise),” he said.

Hancock's Carson Chynoweth (2) puts up a shot as Houghton's Jordan Jurva (2) defends on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton senior and Michigan Tech commit Brad Simonsen continued his hot streak by scoring a game-best 34 points in the victory. Junior Pablo Salgado also had a big effort for the Gremlins with 21 points of his own.

After tip-off, Houghton jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead on offensive rebounds and inside scoring. Getting to the rim would be the theme of the night for the Gremlins, especially on athletic drives to the basket by Simonsen and Salgado. Hancock dropped its first point on a foul shot with 4:28 left in the first period.

Lawson praised the adjusments in Simonsen’s penetration game, noting that before this season, outside shooting would have been considered his star’s forte.

“A couple of those (drives) would have resulted in charges (in the past),” Lawson said. “(Simonsen’s) ability to avoid the charge, avoid the contact, and then still get his shot. I was really impressed with that.”

Houghton finished the opening frame with a 20-9 advantage after a Simonsen buzzer-beater off of a nice effort by a teammate to save a ball going out of bounds.

Hancock's Gabe Smith (20) shoots against Houghton on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Hancock bore down to start the second quarter and matched Houghton with six points apiece in the first half of the stanza. But turnovers would consistently haunt the Bulldogs all evening and those led to easy buckets going the other way. Houghton extended its lead to 16 by halftime.

The third quarter was more of the same and the Gremlins kept inching away. After 24 minutes the Houghton margin was 20 at 59-39.

The final quarter was the silver lining for Hancock. The pace of play noticeably quickened with a lot of action up and down the floor. Bulldog freshman Elijah Packard nailed four 3-pointers in the fourth to lead the Bulldogs’ attack. Hancock played the Gremlins to a standstill over the final minutes. Although they could not close the gap, the Bulldogs dug in and made sure it didn’t widen either.

Hancock head coach Matt Strong was proud that his guys “kept playing hard all the way through the fourth.”

“We started pushing it more and our penetration, getting (Houghton) guys to help (on defense) was better, so we got open threes,” Strong said. “In the first part of the game we didn’t drive the ball well.”

Houghton's Brad Simonsen (23) battles Hancock's Carson Chynoweth (2) for a loose ball on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Other scorers in double figures were Hancock sophomore Carsen Chynoweth (19), Packard (12) and their teammate, freshman Vandan Jacques (11), as well as Houghton senior Jordan Jurva (12). Houghton shot free thows at an 83% clip for the night.

Hancock continues a four-game road swing on Feb. 21 in Iron Mountain. The Gremlins will head south as well to face Kingsford on Thursday.

Hancock 9 15 15 23 — 62

Calumet 20 20 19 22 — 81

HANCOCK (62): Chynoweth 19, Packard 12, Jacques 11, Sebbas 9, Smith 5, Isaacson 3, Raasio 3. FT: 11-16. 3-point FG: Packard 4, Sebbas 2, Isaacson 1, Jacques 1, Smith 1.

Hancock's Carson Chynoweth (2) battles Houghton's Brad Simonsen (23) for a rebound on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON (81): Simonsen 34, Salgado 21, Jurva 12, Romano 8, Dueweke 3, Willey 2, Ruotsala 1. FT: 20-24. 3-point FG: Romano 2, Simonsen 2.

Houghton's Brad Simonsen (23) shoots against Hancock on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Houghton's Pablo Salgado (22) shoots against Hancock on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Hancock's Blake Raasio (24) shoots against Houghton on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Hancock's Blake Raasio (24) dribbles while being defended by Houghton's Jordan Jurva (2) on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Hancock's Gabe Smith (20) deflects the ball from Houghton's Shawn Ruotsala (3) on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020, in Houghton, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)