Parkside men's basketball dropped to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in GLIAC play Saturday afternoon following a 69-54 loss to No. 14 Michigan Tech at DeSimone Arena. The Huskies extended their win streak to six games and improved to 8-1 overall with a 2-0 start in conference action.
The difference came down to efficiency, depth and rebounding, as Michigan Tech controlled the glass and wore down the Rangers over the course of 40 minutes. The Huskies shot 46 percent from the field while holding Parkside to just 33 percent, including a 29 percent mark from three. Tech also held a 41-29 rebounding advantage and turned nine offensive rebounds into 13 second-chance points.
Parkside opened the game with energy and physicality, taking a 7-4 lead on early baskets from Fawaz Surakat, Paxton Warden and Luka Mateski. Michigan Tech answered quickly, however, using its depth off the bench to swing momentum. Ty Fernholz knocked down three three-pointers in the opening ten minutes, and Jesse Napgezek provided production inside as the Huskies jumped ahead 22-11.
The Rangers responded behind Mateski, who attacked the paint and got to the free-throw line repeatedly. The junior scored eight straight Parkside points to cut the deficit to 25-18, and a late layup by Braden McGlothlin trimmed the margin to 31-25 at halftime. Despite trailing by six, Parkside struggled to find rhythm from the perimeter in the opening half, going 0-for-4 from three and shooting 58 percent at the line.
Michigan Tech took control out of the break. Gabe Smith opened the second half with a jumper before finishing a dunk in transition, sparking a 13-5 run that pushed the lead to 44-30. The Huskies continued to convert inside and forced Parkside into tough looks as the deficit reached double figures.
Parkside made one final push midway through the second half, keyed by Josiah Palmer. Palmer scored on a layup, then drilled back-to-back three-pointers and finished a fast break to bring the Rangers within 46-40 with just over 11 minutes remaining. A three-point play by Warden later cut it to 50-45, but Michigan Tech answered again with timely baskets, including another three from Fernholz and a pair of finishes inside to regain control.
Down the stretch, Parkside was unable to generate consistent offense, hitting just one field goal over the final three minutes as Tech closed the game at the free-throw line.
Palmer led the Rangers with 19 points, shooting 6-for-16 from the field and 3-for-6 from three while adding two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Warden followed with 15 points and added two rebounds and an assist. Mateski chipped in 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds, going 6-for-7 at the free-throw line.
Surakat finished with two points, seven rebounds, two assists and a block, while McGlothlin and Jake Dunham combined for four points and three steals. As a team, Parkside went 18-for-55 from the floor, 4-for-14 from three and 14-for-21 from the free-throw line.
Michigan Tech's bench proved decisive. Napgezek scored a game-high 18 points and contributed five rebounds, three steals and a block. Fernholz added 16 points on four three-pointers, while Smith chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds. The Huskies also received nine rebounds from Nate Abel and Josh Terrian as they controlled the paint on both ends.
Parkside will step out of league play next weekend, opening a three-game non-conference swing on Saturday, Dec. 13, at UMSL with a 3 p.m. CT tip in St. Louis.
To keep up with the Rangers, be sure to visit parksiderangers.com/coverage.
