HOUGHTON, Mich. — The Michigan Tech men’s basketball team battled back from a 27-18 halftime deficit to upend arch rival Northern Michigan, 48-46, at the SDC Gym tonight. The Huskies shot just 24.5 percent from the field but used an 18-of-20 mark at the free throw line and intense defensive pressure to earn the season split with the Wildcats.

The win helped Michigan Tech (13-12 overall) maintain its hold on second place in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division standings with an 8-9 record

NMU knocked down 12-of-24 field goals in the first half to post its nine-point lead. The Huskies had just five field goals and nine turnovers at the break.

The Wildcats (7-19 overall, 6-11 GLIAC) extended their lead to 14 with the first five points of the second half. After a pair of Sean Geary free throws, Tech finally turned the tide. The Huskies held the ‘Cats without a field goal for more than five minutes, and the defensive pressure sparked an 18-4 run. Robby Springborn’s three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt with 5:20 to play capped the spurt and tied the game at 36-all.

NMU gained the lead twice more over the next two minutes, but Tim Strom tied the game each time by making two free throws. Tech’s full-court pressure forced a five-second call at the 2:58 mark, and Springborn gave the hosts their first lead of the night at 42-40.

After a missed 3-pointer by NMU, Kevin Maloney found Springborn wide open on a skip pass and the junior’s only 3-point make of the game extended Tech’s lead to five.

The margin remained five after the teams traded two free throws apiece. Jake Suardini made a layup with 18 seconds left to cut the gap to 47-44. Tech committed a turnover on the ensuing inbound pass, but Mike Polfus’ 3-pointer missed the mark and Geary tracked down the rebound. He was fouled and made 1-of-2 free throws with 10 seconds left. The visitors added a basket as time expired for the final margin of two.

“Free throws and defense won us the game,” said head coach Kevin Luke. “I think our pressure wore them down, and Geary put us in a position to win with his steals.”

Geary did not make a field goal in the game but tied a school record with six steals to go with five rebounds and two assists.

Springborn was the team’s leading scorer with 17 points including an 8-of-8 night at the foul line. Strom also reached double figures at 11 points thanks to a 6-of-6 mark from the stripe.

Fedrick Bowe was a huge part of the Huskies’ 42-22 advantage in rebounds. The 6-5 junior pulled down a career-high 15 boards including nine on the offensive glass.

The final shooting tallies for NMU were 47.5 percent from the field and 50 percent (5-of-10) at the foul line.

Michigan Tech will play its final regular season game of 2007-08 on Monday (Feb. 25) when it hosts Lake Superior State at the SDC Gym.

Notes: Tech’s two-point win capped a wild night at the SDC as the Huskies’ women’s team won, 54-52, in the opening game of the doubleheader ... NMU’s Jerard Ajami, who scored all 13 of his points in the first half, was injured early in the second half and did not return to the game.