Photo Credit: Michigan Tech

HOUGHTON, Mich. — The Michigan Tech men’s basketball team used tenacious defense to collect a 65-57 GLIAC victory over Ashland today on the SDC Gym hardwood. The Huskies limited the Eagles to 32 percent shooting from the field and one 3-pointer (on 13 attempts) to win their second straight game and improve to 6-15 overall and 5-11 in league play.

Mike Hojnacki continued his hot play from Thursday night’s win over Tiffin. The 6-7 sophomore forward posted a game- and career-high 22 points in the contest to finish with 40 points on the week.

The teams combined for 24 turnovers in a very sloppy first half. The defenses for both teams brought their A-game. Ashland held a 13-10 lead with 13:08 left in the half before Tech held the Eagles scoreless for an eight-minute stretch. Four different Huskies scored layups during the stretch to make the score 18-13 with 5:12 showing.

Later in the frame, Matt Gaedke took a steal down for a breakaway lay-in to push the margin to seven. AU clawed back within 26-23 at halftime on back-to-back buckets by Kale Richardson.

Early in the second half, Don Fowler drained a 3-pointer and Nate Kindt found Ali Haidar for a layup on a nice high-low pass for a 37-28 margin.

An Erik Stephens’ drive, draw and dish to Tyler Molesworth for a triple pushed the gap to 47-35—the largest of the game—with 10:42 to go. Ashland answered with the next six points to stay in the game.

Tech’s defense stepped up to keep Ashland off the scoreboard for a four-minute span down the stretch. Hojnacki’s two free throws were the only points scored between the 8:28 and 4:08 marks.

The margin stayed between six and nine for the final four minutes as the Huskies made enough free throws to put the game away.

“I’m pretty happy with the way we defended,” said head coach Kevin Luke. “Free throws hurt us a little bit, and we gave up too many offensive rebounds during a stretch. Once we addressed the rebounding issue, we got better.

“We deserved to win, and I feel good for the guys to get the positive results.”

Molesworth (11 points) and Fowler (10) joined Hojnacki in double figures. T.J. Brown scored just two points, but had a strong defensive game holding AU’s Bylynn Hatcher to six points (well below his team-leading average of 13.5).

Richardson notched 21 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Eagles.

Tech shot 46 percent from the field. Ashland posted a 36-33 rebounding edge but committed 19 turnovers to the Huskies’ 16. The final free throw tallies were 16-of-25 for Tech and 24-of-29 for Ashland.

Michigan Tech will continue its four-game home stand next week with games Thursday (Feb. 11) vs. Ferris State and Saturday (Feb. 13) vs. Grand Valley State.