March 2, 2011

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Allendale, Mich. - Michigan Tech used a 21-5 run to start the second half on Wednesday night (Mar. 2) and held off a late GVSU rally to stun the Lakers by a 74-72 score in the quarterfinals of the GLIAC Tournament in Allendale. The Huskies led by a 33-32 tally at halftime, but raced out to a 54-38 advantage eight minutes into the second half and eventually closed out Grand Valley State for the road victory. Despite allowing four Lakers to reach double figures, MTU shot 54.3 percent from the field and 50.0 percent from three-point range.

Entering the game, Grand Valley State was the #3 seed in the GLIAC Tournament thanks to a huge 82-80 overtime win at Ferris State on Saturday (Feb. 26). Michigan Tech was the #6 seed in the eight-team tournament. The loss puts GVSU at 19-8 on the year and it would appear to end the team's chances of making the NCAA Tournament, as the Lakers were ranked 10th in the latest Midwest Regional rankings. Only the top eight teams advance to the NCAA Tournament. Michigan Tech improves to 17-10 overall with the win.

The Huskies scored the last basket of the first half on a layup from guard Austin Armga as time expired, putting the visitors ahead by a 33-32 count at the break. When play resumed to start the second half, Michigan Tech picked up where it left off. MTU made its first five shots of the second half and forward Mike Hojnacki threw dunk an alley-oop dunk and buried a three-pointer from the corner in the middle of the 21-5 spurt. After the run to start the half, GVSU trailed by a 54-38 score.

Grand Valley State would not go away easily, however, as the Lakers would cut the score to single digits (62-53) with a three-pointer from junior guard James Thomas at the 5:17 mark. The next 10 points for the teams were all scored at the line, as sophomore point guard Breland Hogan brought the team within seven with a pair of freebies at the 3:11 mark. After Michigan Tech's Alex Culy split two free throws, Thomas connected on another three-pointer to make the score 67-62.

Thomas then made a steal defensively and the Lakers ended up getting an easy layup for junior guard Alvin Storrs, cutting the deficit to 67-64 at the 2:25 mark. Both teams again traded free throws and with underneath a minute to go, the Huskies were ahead 71-66. At the top of the key, Thomas pump-faked and got MTU's Don Fowler to buy the fake, fouling Thomas from beyond the arc. With 32 seconds to play, Thomas stepped to the line and buried all three freebies, keeping GVSU close at 71-69.

Culy was fouled on the other end and made two free throws for the Huskies, building a four-point cushion at 73-69. On the Lakers' next possession, Storrs was fouled, but missed both free throws, giving the ball back to the Huskies. Fowler then went to the line and split the two shots, making the score 74-69 with nine seconds left. Thomas knocked down a three-pointer from the wing with four seconds left, cutting the deficit down to two points, but the Lakers would not get the ball back and MTU escaped with the win.

Grand Valley State could not have looked better to start the contest. The Lakers received back-to-back trifectas from Thomas, which were followed by a jumper from senior Justin Ringler and a layup from Storrs. GVSU led 10-0 just 3:12 into the game. Michigan Tech roared back and scored the next nine points, but the Lakers kept the lead for most of the rest of the half.

MTU tied the score at 23-23 with 7:05 remaining, but Culy buried a triple for the Huskies and gave the visitors their first lead of the night. Ringler knocked down two free throws at the 2:30 mark and Hogan swished a three-pointer to give the Lakers a brief 32-31 lead with 36 seconds to play. That is when Armga drove the lane with the clock winding down and scored on the layup to put Michigan Tech ahead at the half by a point.

For the Huskies, forward Ali Haider led the way with a double-double of 25 points and 12 rebounds, both of which were game-highs. Michigan Tech shot 54.3 percent from the field and made 9-of-18 three-point tries for a strong 50.0 percent clip. GVSU shot just 36.8 percent from the floor and made 9-of-26 triples. The Lakers stayed close by making 21-of-24 free throws for an 87.5 percentage, while MTU struggled at the line by going 15-of-22 at the stripe.

Grand Valley State committed just eight turnovers and pulled down 11 offensive rebounds, but the Huskies owned the overall edge on the boards, 33-30. GVSU owned a 13-8 edge in second chance points and scored all seven fast break points of the game, all coming in the first half.

Thomas led four double-digit scoring Lakers with 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting. He was 5-of-10 from three-poin range and added five rebounds. Ringler notched 14 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. If this was his last game, it capped a terrific career in a GVSU uniform. Ringler totaled 1,488 career points (seventh-most in Laker history), 734 rebounds (ninth-most), and 303 assists (eight-most). He also ranks third in free throws made with 427 and seventh with 160 career steals.

Hogan, the reigning GLIAC North Division Player of the Week, tallied 13 points, four assists, three boards, and two steals. Storrs supplied 12 points, six rebounds, four assists, and a pair of thefts. Junior guard Wes Trammell added seven points in 24 minutes off the Laker bench.

GVSU will learn its fate on Sunday night when the NCAA Tournament berths are announced.