FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's basketball team topped Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) rival Siena Heights, 73-70, in a Saturday evening thriller from the Schaefer Center. 
 
For Tech, Darren Groves led the way with 22 points and six rebounds, while Max Huber chipped in 13 points and five rebounds off the bench. Joel Wincowski rounded out the contest with 12 points and four rebounds of his own.
 
The first half looked to swing in the visiting Saints favor, as they would jump ahead of the Warriors 11-4 early in the contest. That lead would gradually grow for Siena Heights as they would find themselves ahead 16-4 after just under six minutes worth of play in the opening half. Tech would begin to storm back as their offense would go on an 8-0 run to allow them to come within four, at 18-14, with just under 12 minutes before the half. The Saints would look to redeem a similar lead from earlier in the contest, but this time they would take a 26-19 advantage with just under eight minutes. Huber aided in the Warrior comeback, after nailing a three and two free throws just under a minute later, allowing Tech to find themselves on pace for a comeback as they now trailed 26-24.
 
A lay-up and a made free shot from Scott Schwieterman gave the Orange and Black their second lead of the game after holding an early 4-3 advantage in the game's first seconds. As their offense heated up, their lead would continue to grow, as they once trailed by double-digits now translated into a six point 32-26 advantage. The Warriors held their lead the remainder of the half, as they went into the half up 36-32 behind a nine-point first half performance from Schwieterman.
 
Their lead from the first half of action continued through much of the start of the second half, with an eight-point advantage came off a three-point basket from Groves. Just as the Warriors did in the first half, Siena Heights would put together a comeback and lock the score at 46-46 with just over 14 minutes left in regulation. For the next several minutes, each team would take turns swapping the lead until a three from Huber would secure a 56-51 Tech advantage. The Orange and Black would again continue to hold their lead until the Saints would knot the score at 62-62 with 6:58 left to play.
 
Tech's 69-65 advantage would give way to them trailing the visitors by one with under a minute in regulation. With 11 seconds left on the clock and a 70-70 deadlock, it would be a foul on Siena's Josh Winowiecki that would send Groves to the line for two shots. After sinking just the first free throw to give the Warriors held a 71-70 lead, the Saints would grab the rebound off the second attempt and giving them a shot to win with two seconds to go. A costly turnover from Trevor Holston though, on a pass that went from baseline to baseline, would lead to a foul by him, again sending Groves to the line for two free shots. Groves would nail both shots to put to rest a 73-70 thriller and grant the Warriors another conference victory.
 
The Orange and Black (6-0, 2-0 WHAC) will be back in action Tuesday, as host the University of Michigan-Dearborn in a WHAC contest at the Schaefer Center. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.