Photo Credit: Michigan Tech

ASHLAND, Ohio — Ali Haidar scored a career-high 26 points, but it was not enough in a 73-62 loss at Ashland in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball play tonight. Michigan Tech battled back from a double-digit second-half deficit to get within 63-62 before the Eagles finished the game on a 10-0 run.

Tech (2-10 overall and 1-6 in the GLIAC) seemed to be playing catch-up since getting down 20-10 in the opening 10 minutes. The Huskies cut the gap to three points on four separate occasions in the first half before heading into the locker room down 35-28.

Matt Gaedke’s 3-pointer with 12:26 to play trimmed the AU lead to 46-45. The Huskies defense stopped the Eagles on the next trip down the floor, but AU scored on a putback and eventually pushed the margin back up to nine.

Five straight points from Haidar again shrunk the deficit to a single point—63-62 with 2:14 to go. Again the Tech defense got Ashland to miss, but another offensive rebound led to an easy putback layup.The Black and Gold turned it over for a fast break layup on the next possession and missed a shot following that. AU was able to make 6-of-8 free throws and score another field goal down the stretch to end the game on a 10-0 spurt.

“Offensive rebounds killed us,” said head coach Kevin Luke. “We got the stops we needed, but didn’t box anybody out.

“Ali (Haidar) played a great game but didn’t get much help. We’re still working to put a complete game together.”

Haidar shot 10-of-13 from the field and 6-of-6 at the free throw line in shattering his previous career high of 15. The 6-7 freshman also added a team-high six rebounds. Tyler Molesworth was the only other Husky in double figures with 13 points. Mike Hojnacki and Don Fowler each posted nine points.

Ashland (7-5, 3-4 GLIAC) shot 51 percent from the field and held a 37-27 rebounding advantage. It turned 12 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points.

Tech made 45 percent of its field goals including 6-of-20 (30 percent) from 3-point range.

Michigan Tech will return to action on Saturday (Jan. 9) at 3 p.m. vs. Tiffin.