Michigan Tech guard Marcus Tomashek extends to attempt a layup during a game Friday against Grand Valley State at the SDC Gym in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The No.12-ranked Michigan Tech Huskies men’s basketball team did not have very long to lick their wounds after suffering their second loss of the season Friday in a game against Grand Valley State. They turned around 24 hours later and defeated Davenport in a very similar game to the one they battled through Friday.

With the split, the Huskies moved to 12-2 overall on the season and 3-1 in GLIAC play. The tough stretch Michigan Tech is in at the moment doesn’t get any easier this weekend as they host No. 18 Northern Michigan Thursday and Ferris State Saturday.

Still, coach Josh Buettner was proud of his team for bouncing back from Friday’s defeat.

“I was happy with how we responded on Saturday, getting a win out of it,” he said. “Two really physical games coming out after break has historically been an interesting (situation) for us. I don’t know that we’ve always been that sharp, and we had to find our rhythm again.

“We got beat up on the glass against Grand Valley. We’re one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the country, and weren’t that night.”

Buettner didn’t mince words about where things went wrong.

“Obviously, Grand Valley made a point to try to attack us on there, and the two games we lost, we haven’t rebounded,” he said. “(We) need to be locked in on those things offensively. I think we still have a long ways to go to figure out where we need to be.

“We give ourselves a chance when we’re locked in on the boards, and defending at a high level. I don’t think we were at that level on Friday against Grand Valley. There’s going to be a lot of real physical, tough games in the GLIAC, and hopefully we’re getting back in that mentality.”

After scoring 39 in the finale of the Florida Tech Christmas Classic, senior guard Marcus Tomashek appeared to be turning a corner on the season, but against Grand Valley and Davenport, he scored just 12 and 13 points, respectively.

“The couple games before Christmas, it felt like he was getting his confidence and swagger back a little bit,” said Buettner. “Obviously, taking a week off, and then you come in, and I thought he was practicing pretty well those couple days, but you get in that game, and Grand Valley and Davenport are two teams that have always been good at taking away your leading scorer, one of your best players, and to continue building that momentum.

“Those probably aren’t the two best teams to do that. I think Marcus, as a playmaker, is the best he’s been in his three and a half years. A lot of the analytics show that he’s really helping our offense. Even though his shooting percentages aren’t great, he just can’t get frustrated, and that’s easier said than done for everybody on earth.”

At the same time, senior guard Josh Terrian had himself his two best offensive outbursts of the season. He led the Huskies with 19 points against Grand Valley and came back with 18 more against Davenport.

“That’s awesome,” Buettner said. “We’ve been asking him to shoot quite a bit. He’s a senior, and I think he knew there were big games, (and he) needed to step up and get some shots up.

“It’s interesting not having Adam Hobson, (who was good for) five to seven 3s a game. We’re having a hard time finding who’s shooting them right now with the way we’re kind of built. Terrian and Nate (Abel) need to step up and keep shooting them. They’re both shooting a good percentage. We’re asking them both to shoot a little bit more. That’s not really their game, but they need to get them up.”

Buettner feels the team, as a whole, still has plenty of room to grow offensively.

“I’m just excited that we have a lot of room to grow yet,” he said. “I think I said this to someone earlier in the year, where a lot of times when you have your starting lineup back, you have a veteran team, and you’re winning some games early, it feels like that’s kind of what you are. Then you just have to kind of scheme your way to keep trying to win and play the X’s and O’s games, when teams are trying different things against you.

“I feel like this group still has a ton of room to get better, especially on the offensive side of the ball. I don’t know that we’ve found our offensive identity yet.”

Scouting the Wildcats

The Wildcats come into Thursday 13-1 on the season and 4-0 in GLIAC play after defeating both Davenport and Grand Valley State last weekend.

They are led offensively by fifth-year forward Dylan Kuehl, who is averaging 17.9 points per game and 5.9 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Cal Klesmit is averaging 15.1 points per game and shooting 46.9% from beyond the arc. Fifth year forward Jackson Dudek is also playing well, averaging 12.9 points per game.

Scouting the Bulldogs

The Bulldogs come into this weekend 6-5 overall, but 3-1 in GLIAC play after defeating Roosevelt and Wisconsin-Parkside last week.

Senior Ethan Erickson leads the Bulldogs with 16.4 points per game. Junior Tyler Hamilton is also averaging in double figures at 11.0 points per game.

Game times

The Huskies and Wildcats will battle Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the SDC Gym. Saturday, the Huskies and Bulldogs are set for a 2 p.m. start.