Beaver Dam Grad Nate Abel Leads Michigan Tech to DII Regional Title

Abel scores 11 points, grabs 4 rebounds, and dishes 5 assists in upset win over No. 1 seed Walsh.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:35am

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2021 Beaver Dam High School graduate Nate Abel had a standout performance, scoring 11 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing 5 assists to help the Michigan Tech Huskies upset the No. 1 seed Walsh, 87-70, in the Midwest Regional Championship of the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament on Tuesday night in North Canton, Ohio. The Huskies advance to the national quarterfinals on March 25 in Indianapolis.

Why it matters

This is a major accomplishment for Nate Abel and the Michigan Tech basketball program, as they were able to knock off the top-seeded team and advance to the national quarterfinals of the DII tournament. Abel's strong performance showcases the talent of this Beaver Dam High School graduate and the success he's found at the collegiate level.

The details

In the Midwest Regional Championship game, Nate Abel, a 2021 graduate of Beaver Dam High School, played a key role in Michigan Tech's upset victory over No. 1 seed Walsh. Abel scored 11 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists to help the Huskies secure an 87-70 win and advance to the national quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament.

  • The Midwest Regional Championship game took place on Tuesday, March 18, 2026.
  • Michigan Tech will play in the national quarterfinals on March 25, 2026 in Indianapolis.

The players

Nate Abel

A 2021 graduate of Beaver Dam High School who is now a standout player for the Michigan Tech Huskies basketball team.

Michigan Tech

The university's men's basketball team, which upset the No. 1 seed Walsh to win the Midwest Regional Championship and advance to the national quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Tournament.

Walsh

The No. 1 seed team that was upset by Michigan Tech in the Midwest Regional Championship game.

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What they’re saying

“This is a major accomplishment for our program and we're excited to keep our season going. Nate has been a key contributor all year and his performance tonight was crucial to our success.”

— Kevin Luke, Head Coach, Michigan Tech Men's Basketball

What’s next

Michigan Tech will play in the national quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament on March 25, 2026 in Indianapolis.

The takeaway

Nate Abel's standout performance in leading Michigan Tech to an upset victory over the No. 1 seed Walsh showcases the talent of this Beaver Dam High School graduate and the success he's found at the collegiate level. This run to the national quarterfinals is a major accomplishment for the Michigan Tech basketball program.