Nov. 18, 2006

Box Score

HOUGHTON, Mich. - Jason Genova and Stephan Bolt had game highs of 22 points and 13 rebounds, respectively, but Michigan Tech turned away a second-half Lewis challenge and held on for a 61-59 victory Saturday night.

Michigan Tech (2-0) avenged last year's two-point loss to Lewis. The Flyers edged the Huskies 58-56 in Romeoville.

Lewis (1-1) trailed 32-23 at halftime and 34-23 after Tech's Kris Alpers sank two free throws with 19:07 to play.

Bolt scored on the Flyers' next possession to ignite a 12-0 Lewis outburst. Brandon Dagans followed with two free throws, Genova and Keelan Donald buried 3-pointers and Bolt finished what he started with a tip-in that gave Lewis a 35-34 lead at 15:07.

Although that was the only second-half lead Lewis would have, the Flyers stayed close. Dagans, following Bolt's block of a Michigan Tech shot, gathered the rebound and found Genova for a fast-break layup that made it 53-51 Huskies with 2:31 remaining.

However, Tech blanked the Lewis offense on two consecutive possessions, and Radayl Richardson scored six straight points to give the hosts a 59-51 cushion with 47 seconds left. Genova hit the last of his four 3-pointers (4-of-8) at the buzzer to conclude the scoring.

Tech led most of the first half and earned its nine-point halftime cushion on the strength of a defensive effort that limited Lewis to just two field goals in the final 7:38 of the opening stanza. The Huskies also helped their cause by committing just two turnovers in the first 20 minutes.

The Flyers earned a 43-25 rebounding advantage, including 15 offensive boards. Genova and Dustin Warfield collected seven rebounds apiece, and Dagans added six.

Warfield scored 10 points and Bolt and Donald had nine points each for the Flyers, who shot just 36 percent from the field. Dagans had a game-high four assists.

Lewis hosts Trinity Christian Tuesday night in the Flyers' home opener. Game time is 7:30 p.m.