The Basics

Score: Saginaw Valley 68, Michigan Tech 62
Records: SVSU (14-4 10-2 GLIAC) | MT (6-10, 5-7 GLIAC)
Location: SDC Gymnasium - Houghton, Mich.

Houghton, Mich. - The SVSU men's basketball team remained atop the GLIAC standings after posting a 68-62 victory at Michigan Tech University on Saturday (Jan. 23) afternoon in Tech's SDC Gymnasium. The Cardinals scored 34 points in each half, running out to the six-point win over their North Division opponent. 

The Cardinals started the game ahead after two buckets from Damon Bozeman, putting the score at 4-2 1:45 into the game. Saginaw Valley continued hold the lead over the Huskies, extending their advantage to eight points, 12-4, at the 12:43 minute mark.

Michigan Tech responded, taking its first lead of the game with 9:08 left in the half at a score of 15-14 after a three-pointer from Bryan Heath.

SV came back to earn its largest lead of the opening period after a layup from Garrett Hall at the 3:14 mark, taking the score to 31-22. The Huskies reduced the lead to five points by the end of the half, closing the period with the score 34-29.

The Cardinals picked up momentum in the second half, widening their advantage over the Huskies to 13 points after scoring eight unanswered points in the first two minutes of the period.

Saginaw Valley kept the lead for the rest of the half, pulling ahead by as much as 20 points with 11:11 left on the clock.

The Huskies came back to cut the lead down to four points with five minutes left in the game. SV pulled back ahead by eight with 3:26 left on the clock, their largest lead for the rest of the game.

Tech cut the lead to three points in the last minute before Caleb Davis made three consecutive free throws to double the Cardinal advantage to six and they would seal the game by a 68-62 final count.

Inside the Boxscore

• Bozeman and C.J. Turnage led the Cardinals with 15 points each. Turnage went 5-of-15 shooting and also led the team in rebounds with eight. Bozeman posted three rebounds and two assists.
• Hall posted 14 points, three rebounds, two steals and an assist.
• Davis recored 10 points and six rebounds for Saginaw Valley.
• Kellen Smith led the game in assists with six. He also posted six rebounds.
• Saginaw Valley shot 43.1% (25-58) compared to Michigan Tech's 46.8% (22-47).
• The Cardinals out-rebounded the Huskies by a 36-32 margin and posted a 38-30 edge in points in the paint.
• Saginaw Valley remains in first place overall in the GLIAC standings with a 10-2 record, a game ahead of Findlay and Ferris State.

Meijer "Player of the Game"

Hall was named the Meijer "Player of the Game" after his 14 points, going 6-of-10 from the field with three boards, two steals and an assist. 

From Head Coach Randy Baruth...

"We're proud of our guys for digging deep and fighting for a tough road win. The team showed some toughness down the stretch defensively that allowed us to come out with the win."

Up Next for SVSU

The Cardinals host Grand Valley at SVSU's O'Neill Arena on Thursday (Jan. 28) in an 8:00 p.m. tip-off. The rival matchup is set for a RED OUT, as all Cardinal fans are asked to wear red in support of the Cards. 

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