MTU is still tied for the conference lead with NMU, GVSU
HAMMOND, Ind. – The No. 13 nationally-ranked Michigan Tech men’s basketball squad secured a series sweep over Purdue Northwest, backed by 20 points, six rebounds, four steals and the game-winning shot by Dawson Nordgaard at the PNW Fitness & Recreation Center on Thursday evening.
Behind Nordgaard’s monster day, Marcus Tomashek joined him in double-figure scoring with 16 points. Nordgaard and Gabe Smith each recorded six boards to lead the Huskies. Smith and Ty Fernholz added nine points, respectively.
Michigan Tech, now winners of three-straight, are 21-4 overall and 12-3 in the league while Purdue Northwest falls to 10-12 overall and 6-9 in the GLIAC.
“We kept playing and kept fighting. Nothing came easy again, I think we took their best shot,” said Huskies head coach Josh Buettner. “They missed a layup at the end. Our guys kept going and got a layup to win it. It was a crazy game and that team had just won three of their last four, came in confident and played well. I’m just proud of our guys, winning on the road is hard and that’s a big win.”
Tomashek provided an offensive spark early in the contest, hitting three of his first four shots to propel the Huskies to an early 12-8 edge, with Nordgaard also accounting for a bucket in the first five minutes.
However, the two teams would struggle on offense for the next three minutes before free throws by Kyle Ross tied the game at 17-all with 5:36 to play in the first half. Nordgaard converted a second-chance basket to reclaim the lead before the Pride finished the period strong, producing an 11-2 run to close the frame to take a 28-21 edge into halftime.
Ross and Tomashek led their respective teams with 10 points as Nordgaard chipped in a vital eight points for the Black & Gold through 20 minutes. Ahlante Askew hit two timely 3-pointers for the Pride down the stretch.
After shooting 34.6 percent from the field in the first half, the Huskies improved to 54.2 percent from the field in the second to outscore the Pride 42-33, including 4-10 from deep and converting 12-of-16 free throws.
The Pride preserved a lead for nearly the first seven minutes out of the break, before the Huskies earned the first tie of two free throws by Smith off a steal by Matt Schmainda with 13:07 to go.
Both teams ran into foul trouble midway through the second half, with a 3-pointer by Ty Fernholz and two free throws by Nate Abel putting the Huskies ahead by four points with 8:53 to play, although the Pride kept applying pressure, reclaiming a two-point advantage following a 3-pointer in transition by Kevin Taylor (51-49).
The second half showcased 11 lead changes and six ties as the two teams jostled for a convincing lead. Garrett Clark made it a 3-point affair once again with two free throws at the 1:41 mark. The Huskies answered with a layup by Tomashek in the paint following an offensive rebound by Smith and Tomashek drew a foul but couldn’t complete the three-point play.
The Pride had a chance for the go-ahead basket, but Taylor missed from close range as Abel tracked down the rebound to find a streaking Nordgaard for a fastbreak go-ahead layup.
Taylor, likely frazzled from the missed bunny on the previous possession, sputtered to get a final shot off, seeing the Huskies escape with a 63-61 victory.
Nordgaard (12) and Fernholz (9) combined for 21 second-half points as Tomashek and Smith added six, respectively.
Kyle Ross finished with 20 points and nine boards to lead the Pride.
Up Next
The Huskies complete the first of two weekends on the road Saturday, trekking to Detroit for a clash with Wayne State, slated for a 3:00 p.m. tipoff.
