PREVIEW: Huskies Face Winona State on the Road Sunday

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Sunday Nov. 17 at Winona State • 2 PM • Winona, Minn.
Michigan Tech (2-0) at Winona State (0-3)
Radio: WKMJ Mix 93 FM (Kirk McDonnell)
Video Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/winona/
Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: https://winonastatewarriors.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

2019-20 WEEK ONE IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech got off to a strong start with two solid wins at the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Tournament hosted by McKendree University last weekend. The Huskies topped the host Bearcats 78-73 in the opening game on Saturday night before outlasting Lewis on Sunday afternoon 63-54 to close out week number one of the 2019-20 season.

In the win over McKendree, senior Kyle Monroe led all players with 29 points, sinking 9 of 18 shots from the field while converting on 11 of 13 chances at the free throw line. He also hauled down a team high nine rebounds and came up with three steals on the defensive end of the floor. Senior Tommy Lucca followed with 18 points while dishing out four assists and contributing five rebounds of his own. Junior Dawson Bilski rounded out the double-digit scorers with 14 points while White was successful on 3 of 4 shots from the field, resulting in eight points on the stat sheet.

The Huskies then rallied in the second half Sunday, outscoring Lewis 30-20 in the final 20 minutes to secure win number two of the weekend. Monroe powered Tech's offense for the second straight game with 23 points and 10 rebounds, resulting in his first double-double of the 2019-20 campaign. Bilski followed with 14 points while adding five rebounds and a pair of assists to the stat sheet. Sophomore Owen White wrapped up the contest with 13 points to round out the double-digit scorers for the Huskies. Monroe and Lucca ended up leading the team in the assist category with three apiece.

MONROE NAMED GLIAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kyle Monroe was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division Player of the Week in the opening week of the 2019-20 season. Monroe, who hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin, had two big performances for the Huskies in the wins at the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Tournament this past weekend. Monroe averaged 26 points per game with a weekend high of 29 points in the season opening 78-73 victory at McKendree. Monroe also picked up his first double-double of the season thanks to 10 rebounds and 23 points in Sunday's 63-54 triumph over Lewis. Monroe also combined for 19 rebounds, five assists, and four steals while firing in 16 of 19 chances at the free throw line in the two games.

GLIAC PRESEASON POLL
Michigan Tech was picked to finish third in the GLIAC North Division for the third consecutive year, pulling in 45 points and one first place vote in the Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Wednesday by the conference office. Ferris State once again sits atop the North Division with 55 points and six first place votes. Parkside checks in just behind the Bulldogs with 51 points and five first place nods. Lake Superior State is slated to finish fourth with 33 points, Purdue Northwest fifth with 17 points, and Northern Michigan sixth with 15 points.

Over in the South Division, defending GLIAC Champion Davenport University is penciled in to the No. 1 spot with 61 points and 11 of the 12 first place votes. Ashland University is second with 50 points and one first place vote while Grand Valley State holds down the No. 3 position with 39 points. Northwood is fourth with 26 points, Saginaw Valley State is fifth with 24 points, and Wayne State is sixth with 16 points to round out the bottom three teams in the poll.

GLIAC STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Through the first two games of the season, the Huskies are ranked near the top of the GLIAC statistical rankings in a number of categories. Tech leads the conference in free throw shooting percentage (81.8) and is second in the GLIAC in three-point baskets made per game at 10.0. The defense is second in fewest points allowed per game at 63.5 and are third in rebounding margin per game at 2.5 boards each time the team takes the floor. Monroe leads the GLIAC in scoring at 26.0 points per game, is fourth in rebounding at 9.5 boards per contest, and second in steals per game (2.0). Lucca is eighth in free throw percentage (85.7%) and assists per game (3.5) while White is eighth in field goal percentage (57.1%).

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Winona State has struggled a bit out of the gate, falling to Missouri Southern State, Washburn, and Clarke University in their first three games. The Warriors have faced some good competition though with Missouri Southern State ranked 10th and Washburn receiving votes in the NABC Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll. Winona State played their home opener Wednesday night, losing to Clarke University 73-70. Kevion Taylor and Caleb Wagner recorded 27 and 22 points respectively while Andrea Lo Biondo chipped in 11 points. Wagner reeled in a team high nine rebounds to just miss a double-double. Taylor and Wagner are the top scorers for Winona State at 15.7 and 12.7 points per game respectively. Both players share the team lead in rebounds at 5.7 boards per game.

The last time the Huskies faced the Warriors on the road, it turned out to be a tough 98-66 loss. The Huskies and Warriors went toe to toe through much of the first half before Winona State closed the opening period with a 19-2 scoring run. It created a double digit deficit that Tech was unable to overcome.

The Huskies got the best of Winona State in last year's game in Houghton 69-50. Tech powered out to a 34-21 lead at halftime and never looked back from there. Bilski guided the Huskies' offense for the second game in a row, firing in 22 points. He also hauled down five rebounds and came up with a blocked shot. Bryan Heath followed Bilski with 14 points and eight rebounds, Isaac Appleby tossed in 10 points, grabbed four rebounds and blocked two shots, and Trent Bell nearly had a double-double thanks to 11 rebounds and eight points.

COACH LUKE
Kevin Luke, the winningest coach in Michigan Tech basketball history is in his 26th season leading the Huskies in 2019-20. He has earned a plethora of accolades since his appointment as the program's 11th head coach in May of 1994. Luke has guided the Huskies to five Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, earned eight NCAA Tournament berths and won his 300th game in a 74-72 victory over Grand Valley State on March 2, 2011. He reached the 400 win mark on January 19th, 2017 with an 83-72 win over Northwood at home. He owns an impressive 433-286 overall record, including a 289-196 mark in conference play. His winning percentage of .602 ranks as the best in Husky hoop annals.

UP NEXT
The Huskies are at home for the first time in 2019-20 when they host Minnesota Duluth next Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs are currently 1-1 with a double overtime win over No. 9 Southern Nazarene University in the season opener last Friday. The Bulldogs host Northern Michigan University and Stonehill this weekend in the American Family Insurance Classic.