DULUTH, Minn. – MSU Moorhead men's basketball gave up a 12-point lead in the second half, ultimately falling to Michigan Tech, 74-70. The contest wrapped Dragon action at the St. Louis County Basketball Classic.
Offense would come at a premium through the first 10 minutes as Michigan Tech held a narrow 19-16 lead with just over 12 minutes to play. The Huskies would extend that advantage to seven points as the Dragons struggled from the floor. A score from
Logan Kinsey helped enliven the Dragons, who would eventually trim the deficit to three points after a
Jacob Beeninga lay-up. MSUM would use a physical defensive gameplan to whittle down Michigan Tech's advantage as Beeninga drilled home a three to give MSUM a 27-25 lead with over five minutes to go.
The teams would go back and forth from there to end the half, remaining gridlocked at 29 points with three minutes to play. While Michigan Tech would take a lead with a three, it was the Dragons who finished the half strong, scoring the frame's final five points.
Levi Birkholz would score with just over 30 seconds to play and the Dragons would make a phenomenal defensive play to get possession back.
Jacob Jennissen would send a Husky shot back with the play starting a fastbreak that culminated in a lay-in from
Shaun Wysocki. At the break, MSUM led 35-32 after shooting 44 percent for the half.
MSUM would continue to build on its momentum to start the second half as Kinsey and Jennissen would help push MSUM in front by 10 points.
Sam Hastreiter would keep the lead in double figures for MSUM with a three with 15 minutes to play. A jumper from Beeninga with just over 10 minutes to play would give the Dragons their largest lead of 12 points.
From there, Michigan Tech would claw back into the contest with a 15-2 run to regain a 57-56 lead with six minutes to play. The Huskies relied heavily on one of Division II's finest scorers, Marcus Tomashek, to rebuild a late lead and swing momentum. Both teams would trade haymakers in the final five minutes with Kinsey nailing a massive three with three minutes left. Tomashek would go down on the ensuing possession and tie the game again at 66 points. After another score from Kinsey evened the count at 70 points, Tomashek would strike again with a lay-up. The basket gave Michigan Tech a 72-70 lead with 38 seconds to play. On the other end, MSUM had chances to tie and take the lead, but nothing would fall for the Dragons. Michigan Tech would hang on for a 74-70 victory.
Tomashek finished the game with 40 points while Kinsey registered a new career high of 27 points.
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MSUM (5-1) now preps for the NSIC opener against Northern State on Thursday, December 5. Tipoff from Nemzek Fieldhouse is slated for 7:30 p.m.
