FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The 20^th-ranked Indiana Tech men's basketball team opened its 2016-17 season on Friday afternoon at the University of Saint Francis's Hutzell Athletic Center as they defeated Wright State – Lake, 81-54, in the Northern Lakes Insurance Tournament.
 
The Warriors began the first half of their 2016-17 campaign by slowly compiling a lead over the Lakers that became fueled by a three-point shot hit by Mitch Morken to grow that lead to eight within the first six minutes of the contest. By the halfway point, the Orange and Black advantage grew to double digits as 12-2 run set Tech ahead by 17 and would eventually heighten to as much as 22 by the time the first half came to a close. Lavonte Davis kicked off the Warriors run with a slam dunk that accounted for just two of his 12 first half points total.
 
Tech continued to control the tempo of the game and extended their lead in the second half by as many as 36 points at around the eight-minute mark. To conclude his first collegiate contest, Morken capped the team's first victory of the season with an unassisted slam in the final minute for the 81-54 final score.
 
Tanner Watkins led all players with 22 points and went 5-7 from behind the arc. Davis, Miles Robinson and Morken each finished in double-figures with 16, 12, and 11 points, respectively with Robinson adding 10 rebounds for the double-double. Davis would also add three blocks and eight rebounds to his stat line.
 
As a team, the Warriors would shoot over 41% from the field and forced 16 turnovers. The Orange and Black would turn those turnovers into 22 points.
 
Tech (1-0) returns to the court this Saturday as they take on tournament host, crosstown rival and #1-ranked Saint Francis at 4 p.m. from the Hutzell Athletic Center.