Escanaba junior Braeden Cooper goes up for a dunk against Negaunee onDec. 2, 2025 at Lakeview Gymnasium in Negaunee. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — It was a tough first night on the hardwood for the Escanaba Eskymos as they fell 54-35 to Negaunee here Tuesday. The Miners led 26-21 at halftime. David Juchemich got the first points of the second half for Negaunee on a pair of free throws and Tristan Slater drove to the basket for a layup to extend the Miners lead to 30-21. Slater had 17 points on the night for the Miners.

Escanaba senior Braeden Cooper hit a 3-pointer from the wing to cut the deficit to 34-26. Cooper scored six of the eight points in the third quarter and led the Eskymos with 18 points on the night.

The Eskymos had a hard time getting the ball in the basket as the opening night woes plagued the Eskymos.

“We couldn’t buy a basket tonight,” Eskymos coach Jake Berlinsky said. “We really struggled shooting the ball which was kind of surprising because we have shot the ball well in practice it just didn’t translate to the court for us tonight.”

Tristan Slater led the way for the Miners with 17 points and Cole Pekrul added 16 as the Miners secured the first win for new head coach Bill Hill.

“Our goal tonight was to win the paint,” Hill said. “I thought we did that defensively and did a better job of attacking the paint in the second half.”

The story of the game was free throws as Negaunee made 21 of their free throws for 70 percent while Escanaba made 6 of 17 for 35 percent.

The Eskymos return to action Monday as they host Norway.

Escanaba 12 9 8 6 — 35

Negaunee 15 11 17 11 — 54

Escanaba — Sandoval-Nolde 2, Asgaard 2, Peacock 3, Fields 2, Cooper 18, Starr 8. FT: 6-17; F: 22; Fouled Out: Peacock, Asgaard; 3-pointers: Cooper.

Negaunee — Gleason 2, Pekrul 16, Guenette 6, Prusi 7, Juchemich 4, Slater 17, Gauthier 2. FT: 21-30; F: 19; Fouled Out: None; 3-pointers: Pekrul 2, Guenette, Prusi, Slater.