Michigan Tech guard Pete Calcaterra drives around a defender from Finlandia during a game last season at the SDC Gym in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. — For the second straight night, the Michigan Tech Huskies men’s basketball team was in a one-possession affair late in the game before resorting to fouls to ultimately fall in a high-scoring battle, 93-87.

“It really stings losing a pair with how hard we competed this weekend,” head coach Josh Buettner said. “Hilmer is a special player, and we didn’t have an answer for him. We have a good team and I’m excited to see us compete and continue to come together.” 

The Huskies (0-2) saw early points from Nate Abel and Dawson Nordgaard, who combined for 15 of the 38 first half points. Their early points helped the Huskies hold a lead until the 11:47 mark.

Hobson chipped in five points in the first quarter with a 3-pointer at the 3:14 mark to take a 36-31 lead before heading into halftime with a one-point lead (38-37).

The second half showcased 115 total points, with Upper Iowa scoring a staggering 56 points, shooting a just as shocking 51.6 percent from the field. Tech, who on any other night, probably would see a different result, scoring 49 points on 44.1 percent shooting.

Upper Iowa controlled from the jump in the second half, sustaining a lead until the 7:41 mark when the Huskies pulled back to within two points at 72-70.

The Peacocks remarkable scoring barrage had a lot to do with the 2022-23 NSIC South Player of the Year, who lived up to the honor, scoring 29 of his 37 total points in the second half – 10 of which came from the charity stripe in the final three minutes of the game. 

With 3:20 remaining, the Huskies had climbed back and tied the game for the first time in the second half at 80-all off a 3-pointer from Pete Calcaterra. Despite the double bonus becoming a factor down the stretch, MTU trailed by one with 37 seconds left and once again had a shot to hit the game-tying shot with under 20 seconds to go, before being forced to foul down the stretch.

The Huskies shot a respectable 44.9 from the field for the game, to go with nine 3-pointers. In total, Michigan Tech had three in double-figure scoring in Marcus Tomashek (21 points), Abel (17 points) and Nordgaard (12 points). Tyler Robarge had a team-high seven boards as Abel, Hobson, Drew Barrie and Josh Terrian each grabbed five. 

Michigan Tech saw 28 points from the reserves and 17 total assists, with Terrian having a team-high seven. 

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The Huskies have their home opener on Saturday with a tilt against Missouri-St. Louis, which is slated for a 1 p.m. tipoff.