Northern Michigan University's Isaiah Johnson, center, puts up a shot between the outstretched arms of Michigan Tech defenders Jake Witt, left, and Isaac Appleby during their GLIAC men's basketball game played at the Huskies' gym on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (Houghton Daily Mining Gazette photo by David Archambeau)

By EDDIE O’NEILL

Houghton Daily

Mining Gazette

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech men’s basketball coach Kevin Luke has had to say it time and time again this season.

“It is not for effort that we have lost this game,” he said. “Our guys never give up.”

Unfortunately he had to say it one last time as the Huskies went down to defeat against their Upper Peninsula rival, the Northern Michigan University Wildcats, 74-53, on Thursday evening.

With the loss, the Huskies season ends while the Wildcats have earned the fifth seed in next week’s GLIAC Tournament and will face defending the defending national champion and No. 4 seed Ferris State in Big Rapids at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

“Northern played better than us,” Luke said about Thursday. “They are a good club, and we knew that. It is a disappointing loss because it is our rival and it’s Senior Night, but to our guys credit (they) didn’t quit and we did some good things.”

With a full-court press and some sharpshooting by senior Naba Echols, the Wildcats pulled out to a 21-11 lead in the first 10 minutes. While Echols hit jumpers from around the perimeter, senior Isaiah Johnson penetrated the paint and junior guard Sam Taylor hit 3-pointers.

The Huskies just couldn’t keep up. For every shot by the Huskies, there were two or three Wildcats’ baskets. Northern poured in 17 second-chance points while Tech had three.

Husky turnovers proved to be costly as well with Northern converting 16 points on turnovers. The Wildcats shot 46.7 percent from the field, while the Huskies shot 34.5 percent.

At halftime, NMU led 41-27, and things did not improve much in the second half.

Echols led the scoring charge for the Wildcats with 20 points. Johnson followed with 15. Taylor had 13 points, 12 on four 3-pointers.

While a 12-15 overall record and a 7-13 GLIAC mark was not the outcome he was looking for, Luke stated that he is proud of the fact that his players got better as a team.

“The contributions that our seniors (Bryan Heath, K.C. Borseth and Sean Clarey) have made for this program did not necessarily show up in wins and losses this year, but I tell you they will show up in the years to come,” said Luke. “That is the type of individuals that they are, and I will remember that.”

Luke thought it was ironic that Northern’s two leading scores on the night were seniors and the Huskies leaders were underclassman. Freshman Jake Witt led MTU with 14 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Trent Bell, a Negaunee High School graduate, followed with 10 points and five rebounds.

“We’re going to go from an inexperienced team to an experienced team next year,” Luke said. “There is a lot that has to be accomplished in that time, and we have to clearly fix some things, but I can promise you this — we will be back.”