PREVIEW: Huskies Host Wayne State and Ashland to Begin 2020

Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF)
Thurs. Jan. 2 • 7:30 p.m. vs Wayne State • Sat. Jan. 4 • 3 p.m. vs Ashland
Michigan Tech (8-3, 2-1 GLIAC) vs Wayne State (4-3, 1-2 GLIAC) and Ashland (7-4, 0-3 GLIAC)
Radio: Mix93 FM WKMJ (Mitch Lake)
Video Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mtu/
Audio Stream: Pasty.net
Live Stats: https://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/mbkb/2019-20/schedule

2019-20 WEEK SEVEN IN REVIEW
The Michigan Tech men's basketball team closed out the 2019 calendar year with a dominating 117-60 non-conference victory over Algoma University (Ontario) Saturday afternoon at the SDC Gym. The Huskies surpassed the 100-point threshold for the second time in the last three games as they moved to 8-3 on the season.

Senior Kyle Monroe poured in a season high 30 points, connecting on 12 of 16 shots from the field while adding three rebounds and a pair of blocked shots to the stat sheet. Junior Dawson Bilski followed with 17 points, freshman Eric Carl had 15 points, three rebounds, four assists, and four steals, and sophomore Owen White rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points. Sophomore TeeAaron Powell generated a season best nine points with junior Trent Bell and Appleby sending in seven points each. Junior Tommy Lucca had a game high eight assists and five rebounds.

The Huskies made over 60 percent of their shots in a game for the third time this season, sending in 46-of 73 total attempts (63.0%). Tech made 16 of 28 chances from long distance (57.1%) and went 9 for 13 at the charity stripe (69.2%). The Huskies out-rebounded the Thunderbirds 38-29 and dished out 29 total assists for the second time this season. Tech's defense forced 20 turnovers which led to 32 points on the offensive end of the floor. Meanwhile, the offense turned the ball over just four times which was just one shy of the school record of three set against four different opponents.

MONROE NAMED GLIAC NORTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR THIRD TIME
For the third time this season, Michigan Tech senior forward Kyle Monroe WAS named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division Player of the Week, announced December 23 by the conference office. Monroe helped power the Huskies to a dominating 117-60 non-conference win at home over Algoma University (Ontario) Saturday afternoon at the SDC Gym.

Monroe, a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, scored a season high 30 points by connecting on 75.0% of his field goals (12 of 16), helping lead the Huskies to their eighth victory of the 2019-20 season. Two of his field goals found the target from behind the arc, and in addition, Monroe tossed in 4 of 4 chances at the charity stripe. On top of his statistical totals on offense, Monroe hauled down three rebounds and had two blocked shots on the defensive end of the floor. All of Monroe's production happened in 18 minutes of Saturday's game. On the season, Monroe leads the Huskies in scoring and rebounding at 19.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game respectively. Monroe was also the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week December 2 and November 12.

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 11 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 (79.7%) and is third in the GLIAC in three-point baskets made per game at 9.5. The Huskies are also first in the GLIAC in overall field goal percentage (50.1%) and second in three-point shooting percentage (39.6%). Tech checks in second in assists per game (19.4) and first in fewest turnovers per game (9.2). The defense is first in fewest points allowed per game at 65.7 and are sixth in steals at 6.7 each time the team takes the floor. The Huskies are second in the GLIAC in scoring at 81.5 points per game. Monroe is tied for second in the GLIAC in scoring at 19.7 points per game, 12th in rebounding at 6.5 boards per contest, and second in free throw shooting percentage (87.8%). Lucca is tops in the conference in assists per game (6.7) and assist to turnover ratio (4.9).

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Wayne State is 4-3 overall and 1-2 going into Thursday's GLIAC battle with the Huskies at the SDC Gym. The Warriors are coming off a 69-64 conference win over Ashland on December 14. The Warriors have earned victories in four of their last six games which includes the win over the Eagles. The Warriors are currently first in the conference in three-point percentage (40.3) and second in rebounds per game at 42.0 boards per night. Wayne State's defense is also first in the GLIAC in terms of holding opponents field goal percentage to 37.6 percent. Brailen Neely leads the Warriors offense with a 20.4 points per game scoring average followed by Antonio Marshall at 11.2 points per night.  Karim Murray and James Gordon share the team lead in rebounds at 7.9 boards per contest. Wayne State leads the all-time series with Tech 54-35.

Ashland is 7-4 overall and 0-3 in the GLIAC as they search for their first conference win Thursday night at Northern Michigan University. The Eagles defeated Penn State Shenango 75-47 on December 22 to wrap up the 2019 calendar year. The Eagles are third in the conference in scoring at 79.0 points per game while leading the league in free throws made per contest at 18.3. Ashland is also fourth in the GLIAC in team field goal percentage at 46.6% through 11 games. Drew Noble, the preseason GLIAC Player of the Year, lead the Eagles offense with a 19.1 points per game average. Rodrick Caldwell follows at 13.4 points each time he takes the floor. Aaron Thompson chips in 12.1 points per game and is the top rebounder on the club at 7.2 boards per night. Michigan Tech leads the all-time series with Ashland 17-12 going into Saturday's game.

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 will be back on the road for the first time since mid-November when they travel to Parkside and Purdue Northwest next Thursday and Saturday. It will be the first road test for the Huskies in the GLIAC following five consecutive home contests to begin the conference portion of the 2019-20 schedule. Parkside is 6-5 overall and 2-1 in the GLIAC as they get set to face Northwood and Saginaw Valley State this week. Purdue Northwest owns an overall record of 4-6 and 0-3 in the conference prior to showdowns with Saginaw Valley State and Northwood as well.