Tech Travels to Hillsdale, SVSU for Men's Hoops

THIS WEEK'S NOTES

STAT OF THE WEEK
91.9 • Percent at the foul line for Tech last Saturday (Feb. 6) in a 90-86 win over Grand Valley State. The Huskies made 34-of-37 attempts.

MONROE FOR 30 AGAIN
For the second time this season, freshman Kyle Monroe put up more than 30 points in a game. His 35 against Ferris State on Thursday (Feb. 4) was a new career high and the most by a Tech player since Ben Stelzer had 37 vs. Northern Michigan last year. Stelzer had just three 30-point games a year ago in a season in which he earned All-America honors. With 19 points at Northern Michigan last Monday (Feb. 1), 35 vs. FSU and 22 vs. Grand Valley State last Saturday (Feb. 6), Monroe has improved his season scoring average to 18.8—fourth best in the GLIAC.

HELLER LEADING IN ASSISTS
Post player Luke Heller dished out 13 assists in two games last weekend to move into the team lead in assists for the season at 51 (2.4 per game). The senior had a career-high seven assists vs. Ferris State last Thursday, then followed up with six more vs. Grand Valley State. Heller's strong all-around game has him averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting a team-best 59.7 percent from the field.

HEATH NOTCHES NEW CAREER HIGH
Freshman Bryan Heath posted a career-best 25 points vs. Grand Valley State in Tech's 90-86 win last Saturday. The 6-4 guard knocked down 5-of-11 3-pointers and all eight of his free throws in the contest for his third career 20-point game. Heath hadn't scored 20 points since the Huskies GLIAC opener vs. Malone on Dec. 3. He is averaging 13.4 points and shooting 92.4 percent from the free throw line—fourth best in the nation (tops in the GLIAC).

VYING FOR A GLIAC TOURNAMENT SPOT
Eight GLIAC teams (the top three in each division plus the next two best records) will make the GLIAC Tournament which begins Mar. 1. The Huskies are currently tied with two other teams (Hillsdale and Northwood) for the final spot in the tournament with five games to go.

FREE THROW MARK
In three games last week, Michigan Tech went a combined 81-of-98 at the free throw line (82.7 percent). The Huskies were 33-of-41 at Northern Michigan (Feb. 1), 14-of-20 vs. Ferris State (Feb. 4) and 34-of-37 vs. Grand Valley State (Feb. 6). Tech's school record for free throws made in a game is 36, set Dec. 28, 1971, vs. Roosevelt. The Huskies rank third in the GLIAC and 20th among 303 teams nationally.

THE SERIES VS. HILLSDALE
Michigan Tech has defeated Hillsdale five straight times to take a 30-29 lead in the all-time series vs. the Chargers. Tech earned a 74-69 victory in Houghton earlier this season. The Huskies are 7-3 in their last 7-3 meetings with Hillsdale. The series dates back to 1950.

THE SERIES VS. SAGINAW VALLEY
Saginaw Valley State broke a 39-all deadlock in the series vs. Michigan Tech last month with a 68-62 decision in Houghton. Saturday (Feb. 13) will be the 80th meeting between the teams since the series started in 1972. Tech has won three of the last four and six of the last 10 vs. the Cardinals.

COACH LUKE
Head coach Kevin Luke has coached in more than 600 career games as Michigan Tech's skipper, with a 389-239 record (.619 winning percentage).  Luke is in his 22nd season on the bench for the Huskies and has led Tech to eight NCAA Tournament appearances and six GLIAC Titles. He is a four-time GLIAC Coach of the Year and was the 2002-03 NABC National Coach of the Year. The Huskies have had seven 20-win seasons under Luke.

LOOKING AHEAD
After this week's road trip to Hillsdale and Saginaw Valley State, Michigan Tech will play its final three regular season games at home. The first of those opponents is Northwood on Thursday, Feb. 18. Lake Superior State (Feb. 20) and Northern Michigan (Feb. 25) are the others.