FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's basketball team opened up their 2017-18 season by defeating the defending NAIA Division II National Champions and No. 2-ranked Union College, 89-75, on Friday evening at Hutzell Athletic Center in the Northern Lakes Insurance Tournament hosted by the University of Saint Francis.
 
By knocking off the defending 2017 champions, the Orange and Black recorded the largest upset in program history since defeating #3 Davenport on January 25, 2012. This victory also grants first-year head coach Ted Albert his first win at the helm for the Warriors.
 
Darren Groves led Tech with 27 points and nine rebounds, while Dylan Phair added 21 points and nine rebounds of his own. Edmond Early, Jr. recorded 15 points while Max Huber chipped in eight points and nine rebounds, both guys doing so off the bench.
 
The Warriors would get out to a quick 10-2 lead just under three minutes into the contest, a lead they would continue to grow to a 23-10 advantage at about the 12-minute mark in the first half. Back-to-back layups from Phair and Early granted the Warriors with a continuing lead, 34-27, at the five minute mark. Tech's first half was fueled by 13 and 11-point performances from Phair and Early respectively that would give way to a 39-28 halftime lead.
 
The Orange and Black would maintain their lead into the second half, extending it to 26 at the midway point on a 12-2 run. The remainder of the contest would belong to Tech as they kept control of their 20-point advantage much of the final 10 minutes of the contest, allowing them to cruise to the 89-75 victory.
 
The Warriors would hold the Bulldogs to just 39.3% from the floor and 25% from the three-point line, while Tech shot 46.4% from the floor and went 31-38 (81.6%) from the free throw line.
 
Tech (1-0) moves into day two of the Northern Lakes Insurance Tournament as they face the host and No. 3-ranked Saint Francis on Saturday at Hutzell Athletic Center, with tipoff set for 4 p.m.