Justin St. Ours | Daily Press Escanaba’s Bryant Maki (left, white) shoots over Houghton defenders Kyle Primeau (12), Seojun Yoon (5) and Brandon Kieranen (right, behind) Tuesday at Escanaba.

ESCANABA — As an opener, the Escanaba boys basketball team couldn’t have asked for a much better one Tuesday. The Eskymos overpowered Houghton 63-22 to earn a running clock victory at Escanaba.

“If you can come out and get a win with a running clock the first game and try to get all your kids a little piece of the action, that was kind of a bonus for me,” Esky coach Tracy Hudson said. “Sometimes you’re three or four games in — and with close games — and you haven’t had a chance to get everybody in. So, we got everyone some playing time. I was very happy with the team and the way they played.

“We showed some areas we have to improve on, but I don’t think a coach could ask for more from a first game and a team that hasn’t played since last summer.”

It was the Eskymos new transfer Erik Victorson that got the team started, sinking a triple from the corner just 20 seconds into the first quarter.

“I thought he showed some firepower,” Hudson said. “I think he’s going to be an integral part and a big piece. He brought a lot of excitement to our team. He’s got a great attitude. He brings a lot of enthusiasm to the game.”

A minute later, Esky’s Carter Hudson turned a put back into a three-point play with a successful shot from the charity stripe to make it 6-0.

“I think (our physicality) is going to give some teams some problems,” coach Hudson said. “I feel like we’ve got a good starting five — whoever that is, I feel like we’ve got eight starters. We’re going to have good people coming off the bench, and I feel like that will be key for us in games.”

The Eskymos added two more treys from Victorson and Connor Smale to make it 12-0 before the Gremlins made it on the board.

Houghton’s Blake Wiley earned its first points with two sunk free throws with 2:55 remaining in the first.

The Eskymos added six more to end the first compared to a single triple from Houghton’s Brandon Kieranen to make it 18-5.

The Gremlins’ Kyle Primeau laid one in to start the second quarter, but the Eskymos flipped the differential with a dunk from Colin Hudson and a layup from Bryant Maki to add to their cushion, 22-7.

“I thought (Houghton) played hard and competed,” coach Hudson said. “I don’t think they can measure it by a win or a loss. I thought their point guard did a good job (Primeau). I think he’ll be a good player. He got by us a few times.”

Houghton added three more on a free throw and jumper, but an Eskymos’ 15-1 run to close the second sealed the game.

As the Eskymos’ roster cycled into the game, they outscored the Gremlins in the third 15-7 and 11-4 in the fourth with a running clock.

“I think we were just excited to be on the basketball court and just to be able to compete,” coach Hudson said. “We played a young team, an inexperienced team, but I think they played hard and aggressive. I just think our talent kind of overwhelmed them.

“I was very happy with how our kids looked for the first game. We were shut down way back last summer … The kids have been very resilient. They came out and did what we wanted. They came out with some defensive intensity. We pushed the ball, and I think we shared the ball. That’s kind of what we stressed in there.”

Colin Hudson led the Eskymos with 14 points. Victorson was right behind with 13 and three treys, and Connor Smale finished with 10.

The Gremlins were led by Primeau with nine points.

The Eskymos host Marquette Thursday.

Houghton 5 6 7 4 — 22

Escanaba 18 19 15 11 — 63

Houghton — K. Primeau 9, Kievanen 4, Yoon 3, Ryyanen 2, Wiley 2, Ruotsala 1, D. Primeau 1; F: 10; Fouled out: none; FT: 6-13; 3-point field goals: Yoon 1, Kievanon 1.

Escanaba — Colin Hudson 14, Victorson 13, Smale 10, Carter Hudson 9, Maki 4, Brown 4, Morehouse 3, Frazer 2, Howes 2, Hanson 2; F: 14; Fouled out: none; FT: 6-12; 3-point field goals: Victorson 3, Smale 3, Morehouse 1.