Michigan Tech forward Dawson Nordgaard attempts a layup while being closely defended by a Wayne State player during Saturday’s game at SDC Gym in Houghton. (David Archambault / for the newspaper)
HOUGHTON — Trailing by 14 points late in the first half, the Michigan Tech Huskies men’s basketball team pulled off a small success that included a pair of free throws from junior forward Pete Calcaterra sandwiched between a pair of threes from sophomore guard Markus Tomasek and freshman guard Markus Tomasek. Nate Appel cut the Wayne State Warriors’ lead to six, 45-39.
The Warriors scored the next two baskets of the game, but from there, the Huskies fought all the way back until junior guard Adam Hobson tied the game at 60-60. From there, the Huskies went on to pick up just their second win of the season, 84-77, on Saturday at SDC Gym.
According to Huskies coach Josh Buettner, the win was big for the home team.
“it’s huge,” Buterin said. “I mean, we played one of the best schedules in the country, and our guys kept working even though we didn’t always get results. We lost some tough games, some very close games, and some games that without a doubt could creep up a little bit. To fall back as much as we did, And to come back and fight, believe and compete, is a big win.
Tomasek led the Huskies (2-6 overall, 1-1 GLIAC) with 20 points, including 12 in the second half. He said the team’s goal was to light the fire starting Thursday’s game against Saginaw Valley State, but the Huskies lost that by just one point. So, getting back into the win column on Saturday is what the team desperately needs.
“We were trying to get back to .500, get these four home games in a row, and win each one,” he said. He said. “After our loss last night, we knew we needed this game. We needed it for ourselves, to get back on track, and get some (wins).”
Tomasek pointed to that stretch at the end of the first half as a turning point for the team in regaining its confidence.
“I think we need it” – Tomashek said. “Obviously we had a tough first half. I don’t know how much we got there, but once we got back to single digits, we were down six. I think we all realized we were still in this game, and we might end up winning it.”
Another Huskies player also had eight points in the first half, freshman forward Dawson Nordgaard. In the second half, he scored 11 points to help the Huskies come back. His 19 points were a career high.
“It means everything” He said when asked about finding a way to get involved offensively. “I mean, helping my teammates and helping my team win the game, it’s a great feeling.”
Butner likes how quickly Nordgaard has adapted to the role the coaching staff is putting him in.
“He made some big baskets for us, and he’s getting a lot better.” Buettner said. “The crazy thing is that by the end of February, he’ll probably make the biggest jump, because he’s still so raw, and just starting to figure it out. (He’s) still growing inside his body and he’s going to make huge leaps the more playing time he gets, the more We kept delving into it.
“He gave us a big boost in that stretch where we extended the lead a little bit. He had some huge plays, some huge rebounds, and that was great.”
Nordgaard’s scoring was a key part of the Huskies’ comeback, as was his play in the post whether he had the ball or was forcing Warriors players Matt Coffey and Colin Golson Jr. to foul out of having to defend him aggressively. .
“One of the big things, even when there’s not always the best outcome, if you let Wayne State’s 44 (Coffey) and 1 (Golson) just bully you inside, and then you don’t even try to get them to play defense, then they get the perfect scenario. “ Buettner said. “They can be really physical on that end and just rely on defense. When they attack, I mean he made a lot of mistakes… At the end of the game, obviously they both made mistakes.
“Dawson will continue to get better, and we will continue to put it out there.”
As the Huskies’ offense caught fire, the Warriors’ offense seemed to falter. Several Huskies got involved, with Calcaterra finishing with 11 points, Hobson finishing with 16, and Appel finishing with eight, and the Huskies methodically picked apart the Warriors’ defense until things opened up for them to make big shots, whether it was long three-pointers, or inside layups from layups. The offensive rebound, which gave the home team the opportunity to adjust things and then withdraw late.
the next
The Huskies return to action on Sunday, December 17, when they host Kentucky Wesleyan at 1 p.m. at SDC Gym.
The Husky men’s basketball team recently completed their return to the top with a hard-fought victory over the Warriors, demonstrating their skill and determination on the court. The game ended with a final score of 84-77, showcasing the team’s resilience and ability to triumph over adversity. This exciting win has solidified the Huskies’ position as a force to be reckoned with in the world of college basketball, and has garnered much attention from fans and sports enthusiasts alike. With this impressive achievement, the team is poised for continued success in the upcoming season.