Story/photo produced by Michigan Tech University Sports Information.

BEMIDJI, Minn.---The Michigan Tech men's basketball team defeated Bemidji State 81-74 on Tuesday night on the back of Ben Stelzer's career-high 29 points.

Austin Armga added 23 points as the Huskies snapped Bemidji's eight-game home winning streak and won their third game of the season, all against opponents from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
 

"Austin and Ben stepped up again for us tonight," Tech coach Kevin Luke said. "They were huge all night offensively.

"We weren't very sharp defensively and that kept Bemidji in the game. We got lucky. We have to get better if we're going to be successful, moving into GLIAC play."

Stelzer was 9-for-19 from the floor, including 6-for-10 from 3-point range. He also made 5-for-6 from the charity stripe.

"Ben is a great shooter. He obviously kept us in tonight, but we're going to need him to shoot that well every night," Luke added.

Up one (70-69) with 4:29 left, Tech scored seven straight points, after a jumper and two free throws by Armga and a Stelzer 3-pointer gave the Huskies a 77-69 lead with 2:09 left.

Brock Lutes made a pair of free throws for the Beavers to cut into the lead and Zach Noreen added a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to three with 45 seconds left.

After a Tech turnover, the Beavers had a chance to tie the game but DJ Hervy missed a three and Alex Culy and Armga put the game away for the Huskies, making two free throws each.

The game saw 15 ties and 16 lead changes. Tech took their final lead of the game on an Armga trey with 7:06 left.

Armga finished 6-for-12 from the field and perfect from long range (2-for-2) and the free throw line (9-for-9). Culy and Connor McLeod chipped in with nine points each. Luke Heller controlled the boards with a game-high six rebounds.

The Huskies shot 25-for-51 (49 percent) from the field and 13-for-19 (68 percent) from beyond the arc.

Bemidji (3-1) was led by Zach Noreen with 25 points. Maxie Rosenbloom (15) and Jake Schalow (11) were also in double figures. The Beavers shot 48 percent (24-of-50) from the field and made 21-of-24 (88 percent) from the free throw line.

The first half was a back and forth battle with nine ties and 10 lead changes. Tech held a 42-36 lead at the break and were led by Stelzer with 13 points.

The Huskies are off for Thanksgiving and return to action with the GLIAC opener on Dec. 5 against Malone at the SDC Gym. Tech also hosts Walsh on Dec. 7.