Jesse Napgezek and Kaydin Schultz combine for 48 points
WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. – The Michigan Tech men’s basketball team defeated Missouri-St. Louis 73-69 on Saturday at the Justagame Fieldhouse. Jesse Napgezek and Kayden Schultz combined for 48 points to lift the Huskies to a 2-0 weekend to begin the season.
“This group has a lot of fight in them,” Tech coach Josh Buettner said. “We have a lot to learn, but we’re happy to come home with two wins.”
Similar to Friday’s win, the Huskies trailed at halftime and used a big second 20:00 to secure the win.
Trailing by 10 with 9:45 left in the game, Tech started its comeback. It started with back-to-back buckets by Kayden Shultz followed by a Jesse Napgezek fast-break layup. The Tritons scored, and then Napgezek scored another two before back-to-back threes by Kayden Schultz to put Tech in front for the first time in the second half with 6:31 on the clock.
UMSL regained its lead, but Napgezek hit a trey and then added a pair of free throws to regain the lead with 1:57 left. Schultz scored free throws for a two-point lead with 1:24 left, and Napgezek scored the final field goal with 59 seconds left for a four-point margin. He then sealed the win with a pair of free throws with a second left in the game.
The Huskies shot 56.5 percent in the second half and were 5 for 11 from three. They outscored the Titans 42-33 in the final 20:00.
Jesse Napgezek scored a career-high 26 points, shooting 7 for 12 from the field. He also led the team with eight rebounds. Kayden Schultz added 22 points in 36:57 of court time. He was 8 for 15 from the field, which included 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. Ty Fernholz added three 3-pointers.
UMSL was led in scoring by Miles Boland with 19. Jake Hamilton (12) and Abe Nayou (10) were also in double figures.
Tech plays a pair of home games next weekend, hosting Concordia-St. Paul on Thursday and Minnesota Duluth on Saturday.
