Kevin Schappell

HOUGHTON, Mich. - Radayl Richardson scored a game-high 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds Thursday night as Michigan Tech posted a 79-69 win over Northern Kentucky University at the SDC Gym.

Bob Evans added 18 points as Michigan Tech improved to 8-2 and sent NKU (5-6) to its fourth consecutive loss. Kevin Reinhardt led the Norse with 15 points, while teammates Mike Kelsey and Harrison Morton each scored 12.

NKU took a 39-34 halftime lead when Kelsey nailed a half-court shot at the buzzer. The Norse scored the first four points of the second half to build a 43-34 advantage, but Michigan Tech countered in a hurry.

During the next eight minutes, Michigan Tech used a 24-9 run to take a 58-52 lead. Richardson - who hit four three-point shots - capped the spurt with a trey at the 11:45 mark.

NKU pulled within a point (58-57) on Reinhardt’s tip-in basket with 8:11 remaining, but Michigan Tech responded with a 19-8 spurt to take a commanding 77-65 lead.

Michigan Tech used 28-for-31 shooting from the free-throw line to avenge a season-opening 55-53 loss to NKU. Josh Buettner added 16 points and five rebounds for Michigan Tech, which shot 52 percent from the field in the second half to rally for the win.

Jason Marcotte finished with 11 points and six rebounds for the Huskies, who were 9-for-27 from three-point range. Michigan Tech was 14-for-15 from the free-throw line in the second half.

Kevin Schappell contributed 11 points and five rebounds in his first start of the season for NKU, which connected on 47.2 percent of its shots from the field. The Norse also outrebounded Michigan Tech by a 36-31 margin.

Derek Smith finished with eight points for NKU, and teammate Mark Hawkins added six points.

NKU will play at Missouri-St. Louis next Thursday at 8:30 p.m. in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game. The Norse are 2-4 in the GLVC.