Michigan Tech’s basketball teams faced off against Wayne State in a home game doubleheader on Thursday, Jan. 22. The men, playing at 7:30 p.m., won with a final score of 75–74. The women, playing at 5:30 p.m., lost with a final score of 83-86.
Despite the loss, the women’s team came out swinging with a solid first half, leading by nine points before halftime began, finishing up with number three Dani Nuest releasing a layup just before the buzzer sounded for a score of 47-38. Early into the first quarter of the game, forward and center Janie Tormanen took a hit to the head and was out for the remainder of the game. Head Coach Sam Clayton, in a post-game interview, commented that it was “A really tough game to not have her.” This was seen especially in the second half, when Wayne State brought out more shooters, and the game required tougher defensive play. By the third quarter, the team missed a few layups, which “changed the whole momentum of the game,” said Clayton, who emphasized “learning from… but not dwelling on it.” On Saturday, Jan. 24, the women’s team made a comeback, beating Purdue Northwest with a score of 73-46.
Similarly, the men’s team also kept the lead during the first half against Wayne State, ending with a difference of 20 points for a score of 43-23. Despite that, the men also had a worse second half, with Wayne State catching up 15 minutes in for a score of 59-59. The Huskies’ lead, despite being maintained, remained in the single digits from shortly before the fourth quarter began until the end of the game, with Tech scoring a narrow victory of 75-74.
During a post-game interview, Head Coach Josh Buettner said the team would watch the film on Friday since “They don’t have school to worry about” following university closure due to extreme temperatures. Though the team won, the game brought to light some points the coach thought they could work on, citing turnovers, missed shots, and fatigue as key focal points to improve on for the future. “It’s gonna take another good effort,” Buettner said before the game on Saturday against Purdue Northwest, a game that the Huskies won with an 18-point lead for a final score of 83-65.
The teams will face each other again in another doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 14, in Detroit. The women’s team plays first at 1:00 p.m., followed by the men’s team at 3:00 p.m. For more information, go to michigantechhuskies.com.
