Story, photo courtesy of MTU Athletics
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The No. 5 nationally-ranked Michigan Tech men's basketball team was on the wrong side of a physical GLIAC affair, falling 79-75 to Grand Valley State at the SDC Gymnasium on Friday afternoon.
Michigan Tech (11-2, 2-1 GLIAC) saw a new career-high 19 points from senior Josh Terrian, who connected on 5-9 from 3-point land to lead four players in double-figure scoring.
Jalen Charity had a game-high 22 points for Grand Valley State (9-2, 2-1 GLIAC), won the rebounding battle 43-36, including a 16-13 advantage on offense, while enjoying 33 points from the bench.
"Grand Valley State came in and out toughed us from start to finish and deserved it more than us," said Tech head coach Josh Buettner. "We lost the game because we gave them offensive rebounds and points in transition. Our offense had nothing to do with the loss–we got out-toughed and they got their points in toughness."
In a defensive struggle, the two teams combined for 20 points halfway through the first half, seeing the Huskies ahead 11-9 with four points from Marcus Tomashek and Dawson Nordgaard, respectively.
GSVU orchestrated a 13-2 run from the 6:36 mark to the 4:46 mark to jump ahead 26-19 before the Black & Gold snapped a cold-shooting streak with a 3-pointer by Terrian, his second of the half. The Lakers enjoyed back-to-back 3-pointers by Ethan Alderink following a trey by Charles Turner as part of the offensive spurt.
The two teams jostled for a convincing lead down the stretch of the first half as the two teams had five ties and four lead changes before Grand Valley State pulled ahead 37-35 with free throws by Cam Regnerus to head into halftime.
It took nearly five minutes into the second half before the Huskies were able to tie the game once again after GVSU maintained a lead early. Free throws by Gabe Smith made it 44-all in a second half that saw 15 personal fouls go against the Black & Gold compared to 12 for the visitors. The Huskies also were on the wrong side of the turnover battle in the second stanza, coughing up the ball eight times.
A layup by Matt Schmainda with 7:36 to play gave the Huskies its final lead of the contest at 56-54 before the home team would be forced to foul from three minutes to go until the buzzer.
Terrian made it a two-point game once again with 1:49 to play (71-69) before the two teams traded free-throw opportunities, ultimately seeing two free throws by Charity deciding the game at 79-75.
Tomashek had a team-high four assists to go with 12 points as Nate Abel added a team-leading nine boards.
Charity also led his squad in rebounds with seven, as Mason Docks had a game-high three steals.
Up Next
The Huskies close out the weekend Saturday, hosting Davenport at 3:00 p.m.
