Northern Michigan University’s Isaiah Johnson, right, looks for space while defended by Michigan Tech’s Jordan Chartier Thursday at Michigan Tech. (Houghton Daily Mining Gazette photo by David Archambeau)

HOUGHTON — A second-half comeback fell just short for the Northern Michigan University men’s basketball team Thursday night when Michigan Tech outlasted a back-and-forth finale to take an 85-80 win.

NMU head coach Bill Sall said his team needed a more complete performance to get the win in their season finale.

“We needed a little more energy and a few more plays in the first half,” Sall said. “But I was happy to finally see our guys treat this game like a true rivalry.

“Our resilience showed in the second half and we’re continuing to compete with some of the better teams in this conference, but we’re still trying to figure out how to get over the hump.”

After trailing by 11 points early in the second half, the Wildcats put together a 14-2 run to grab a 53-52 lead with 14 minutes remaining.

The Huskies continued to regain leads and add size to them, but the Wildcats kept responding with timely triples to get themselves back in it.

NMU shot 50 percent from beyond the arc, with five of their 15 triples coming from Sam Taylor.

Tech head coach Kevin Luke said his team could feel the pressure with NMU’s continuous long baskets.

“We knew it was going to come down to a one-possession game,” Luke said. “When you shoot 30 threes and make 15 of them, it’s hard to get separation…. It was nerve racking, but to our guys’ credit we kept our composure and kept going. We said in the huddle that we needed an inside touch and get in the paint.”

A triple by Taylor put NMU ahead one final time, 62-61, with 9:23 left.

Marcus Matelski would tie the game 73-73 after cutting through a pair of Husky defenders and putting in a layup with 2:40 remaining, but the Wildcats couldn’t get a crucial stop as Tech scored a pair of baskets and 6 of 7 free throws after that to run out the clock on NMU.

Naba Echols and Isaiah Johnson each scored 21 points for the Wildcats, while Taylor tacked on 20.

All five Husky starters and one player off the bench scored in double digits for Tech, highlighted by Kyle Monroe’s 19 points. Superior Central graduate Jordan Chartier and Marquette Senior High School product A.J. Grazulis added 16 each.

Grazulis said he always enjoys tipping off against his hometown team.

“I grew up watching (Northern),” Grazulis said. “I always wanted to go to Tech but it’s fun to see a lot of their faces, and it’s good to beat them.”

The loss dropped NMU to 8-18 overall and 6-15 in the GLIAC. With half of his roster freshmen, Sall pointed to the five losses suffered in the final moments of the game this season as a focal point for the offseason.

“At the end of the day, you’re judged by what your record is,” Sall said. “We made some good strides this season, but we have to start finishing games.

“This is one of the hardest-working and determined teams I’ve ever been around, and sometimes I have to remind myself of how young we still are.

“We have the right pieces in place and the right guys who will get us to where we want to go. We’re going to get there.”

Ray Bressette can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 243. His email address is rbressette@miningjournal.net.