Photo Credit: Michigan Tech

HOUGHTON, Mich. — Michigan Tech overcame a five-point halftime deficit to defeat Tiffin 58-52 in GLIAC men’s basketball tonight at the SDC Gym. The Huskies held the Dragons to 30 percent field goal shooting to improve their record to 5-13 overall and 4-11 in league play.

The Huskies got off to a slow start in the first half. Tiffin notched four more rebounds and three fewer turnovers in the frame to post a 24-19 edge at the intermission.

Tech couldn’t have asked for a better start to the second half as it drained seven of its first eight field goals on a 15-0 run to take control of the game. Don Fowler scored seven points during the stretch and Mike Hojnacki and Matt Gaedke added four apiece as the hosts built up a 34-24 advantage.

Tiffin responded with an 8-1 spurt to pull back within 35-32 midway through the half. Fowler then swished his second  3-pointer and Hojnacki made a layup on an unreal catch of a high-low post pass to push the margin back to eight.

The Dragons fabricated another late surge to close within 52-49 with a minute to play. Tech’s T.J. Brown was then fouled, and he missed the front end of a 1-and-1.  Fortunately for the hosts, TU committed a lane violation and gave Brown a second chance where he made both.

Hojnacki hit four straight from the charity stripe to ice the win.

Tiffin (1-19 overall, 0-15 GLIAC) remained in the game by hauling in 20 offensive rebounds and turning those into 15 second-chance points. The Dragons also forced 16 turnovers with their full-court press.

“I’m happy but concerned,” said head coach Kevin Luke. “We didn’t take care of business on the boards.

“The players made up the minds at half and decided to execute, and we were really sharp when we decided to attack the press.”

Tech shot a robust 61 percent from the field in the second half to finish the contest at 49 percent. TU had 21 more attempts from the field but two less makes in shooting 30 percent.

Hojnacki’s season-high-tying 18 points was a big reason the Huskies outscored the Dragons 30-18 in the paint. He scored the game’s first and last points with an alley-oop dunk on Tech’s first possession and the free throws at the end. Hojnacki also paced the team with seven rebounds.

Fowler posted 13 points, six rebounds and four steals and was instrumental in breaking the Tiffin press. Gaedke added 12 points and four assists. Ali Haider notched eight points and five boards.

Michigan Tech will play again at home on Saturday (Feb. 6) with GLIAC South Division foe Ashland coming to the SDC Gym at 3 p.m.