Michigan Tech forward Dawson Nordgaard (33), and guard Grant Warren (34) get high-fives during a game against Purdue Northwest Thursday at the John Friend Court in Hammond, Indiana. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

HAMMOND, Ind. — The No. 13 Michigan Tech Huskies men’s basketball team secured a series sweep over Purdue Northwest, backed by 20 points, six rebounds, four steals and the game-winning shot by redshirt senior Dawson Nordgaard at the John Friend Court at the PNW Fitness & Recreation Center Thursday evening.

Behind Nordgaard’s monster day, senior guard Marcus Tomashek joined him in double-figure scoring with 16 points. Nordgaard and sophomore guard Gabe Smith each recorded six boards to lead the Huskies. Smith and sophomore guard Ty Fernholz added nine points, respectively.

Michigan Tech, winners of three-straight, improved to 21-4 overall and 12-3 in the league while Purdue Northwest fell to 10-12 overall and 6-9 in the GLIAC.

“We kept playing and kept fighting. Nothing came easy again, I think we took their best shot,” said Huskies coach Josh Buettner. “They missed a layup at the end. Our guys kept going and got a layup to win it. It was a crazy game and that team had just won three of their last four, came in confident and played well.

“I’m just proud of our guys. Winning on the road is hard, and that’s a big win.”

Tomashek provided an offensive spark early in the contest, hitting three of his first four shots to propel the Huskies to an early 12-8 edge, with Nordgaard also accounting for a bucket in the first five minutes.

However, the two teams would struggle on offense for the next three minutes before free throws by Kyle Ross tied the game at 17-all with 5:36 to play in the first half. Nordgaard converted a second-chance basket to reclaim the lead before the Pride finished the period strong, producing an 11-2 run to close the frame to take a 28-21 edge into halftime.

Ross and Tomashek led their respective teams with 10 points as Nordgaard chipped in a vital eight points for the Huskies through 20 minutes. Ahlante Askew hit two timely 3-pointers for the Pride down the stretch.

After shooting 34.6 percent from the field in the first half, the Huskies improved to 54.2% from the field in the second to outscore the Pride 42-33, including 4-of-10 from deep and converting 12-of-16 free throws.

The Pride preserved a lead for nearly the first seven minutes out of the break, before the Huskies earned the first tie of two free throws by Smith off a steal by junior guard Matt Schmainda with 13:07 to go.

Both teams ran into foul trouble midway through the second half, with a 3-pointer by Fernholz and two free throws by senior guard Nate Abel putting the Huskies ahead by four points with 8:53 to play, although the Pride kept applying pressure, reclaiming a two-point advantage following a 3-pointer in transition by Kevin Taylor (51-49).

The second half showcased 11 lead changes and six ties as the two teams jostled for a convincing lead. Garrett Clark made it a 3-point affair once again with two free throws at the 1:41 mark. The Huskies answered with a layup by Tomashek in the paint following an offensive rebound by Smith and Tomashek drew a foul but couldn’t complete the three-point play.

The Pride had a chance for the go-ahead basket, but Taylor missed from close range as Abel tracked down the rebound to find a streaking Nordgaard for a fastbreak go-ahead layup.

Taylor, likely frazzled from the missed bunny on the previous possession, sputtered to get a final shot off, seeing the Huskies escape with a 63-61 victory.

Nordgaard (12) and Fernholz (9) combined for 21 second-half points as Tomashek and Smith added six, respectively.

Kyle Ross finished with 20 points and nine boards to lead the Pride.

Up next

The Huskies complete the first of two weekends on the road Saturday, trekking to Detroit for a clash with Wayne State, slated for a 3 p.m. tipoff.