Michigan Tech guard Marcus Tomashek works against a Grand Valley State defender during a game Saturday at the GVSU Fieldhouse in Allendale. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

ALLENDALE — The No. 6 Michigan Tech Huskies men’s basketball team was unable to overcome a 19.4% shooting first half, tying the game twice in the second half, before ultimately dropping a low-scoring battle at No. 23 Grand Valley State, 55-46, at the GVSU Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon.

Only three players reached double-figure scoring in the offensive struggle. Senior guard Marcus Tomashek led Michigan Tech (18-4 overall, 9-3 GLIAC) with 15 points, along with six rebounds and an assist. Senior guard Nate Abel pulled down a team-high nine rebounds, adding five points and an assist.

“We were ready to play and we played hard,” said Huskies coach Josh Buettner. “We weren’t as sharp as we needed to be, and Grand Valley is good, especially in their gym. It was a physical game and hard to get anything inside.”

Grand Valley State (17-3 overall, 10-2 GLIAC) outscored the Huskies 29-17 in the first half, leading from the first possession of the game, securing a double-digit lead by the 12:26 mark off of free throws by Ethan Alderink, 14-3.

“Obviously, you have to shoot better than that to win a big game on the road,” Buettner said. “Turnovers and rebounds are what win games and I thought we held our own on the glass today, but the turnovers that killed us were the live-ball ones that led to points.”

Tomashek had seven points on two 3-pointers and a free throw as freshman guard Jesse Napgezek added five points, connecting on a 3-pointer and a layup. Alderink (9) and Mason Docks (7) led the Lakers in scoring as both teams earned six points off of seven first-half turnovers, and Grand Valley headed into halftime leading 29-17.

The Huskies shot 43.5% in the second half while holding the Lakers to 26.3% shooting and also won the rebounding battle 21-14.

The Lakers led by as many as 14 points two minutes into the second half, 34-20, but the momentum was going the Huskies way, with an 8-0 run from the 12:12 mark extending to the 7:48 mark tied the game at 38-38.

Tomashek had four points in the run, off two free throws and a layup that tied the game. Sophomore guard Ty Fernholz added a 3-pointer, Abel added a free throw and redshirt senior forward Dawson Nordgaard hit a hook shot.

Grand Valley retook the lead off a layup by Trevor Smith Jr. before Tomashek tied it once again on the next possession with a layup, making it 40-40 with 7:48 to play.

However, the Huskies would get no closer, giving up three turnovers that translated into a seven-point advantage for the home team with under five minutes to play.

The Lakers converted on 6-of-10 free throws from 2:07 to the finish, getting ahead by 12 points with 38 seconds to play after two free throws by Smith Jr.

Junior guard Matt Schmainda hit a 3-pointer to conclude the scoring with the game already decided.

Docks finished with a team-high 13 points, hitting two 3-pointers and going 5-of-6 from the charity stripe, adding three steals. Smith Jr. also reached double-figure scoring with 11 points, eight points coming in the second half, where he went 1-of-4 from the field and 6-of-8 from the charity stripe. Jalen Charity and Shamus Thompson each recorded a team-best seven boards.

Up next

The Huskies return to the SDC Gym next week, welcoming Lake Superior State Thursday and Saginaw Valley State Saturday for Alumni Day.