SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State men's basketball program (1-4) is set to open up Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play with two games inside the friendly confines of Bud Cooper Gymnasium. On Dec. 1, the Lakers will face the Davenport Panthers before taking on Grand Valley State on Saturday, Dec. 3 in the battle of the Lakers. 

The Panthers have gotten off to a slow start this season with a 1-4 record, but they were able to pick up their first win of the season when they defeated Tampa by a final score of 64-58 at the Eckerd College Thanksgiving Classic. They are led offensively by the duo of Marcedus Leech Jr. and Jakub Dombek who are each averaging 15 points per game this season with Dombek also leading the team in rebounding with 7.6 per contest. 

Grand Valley currently holds a record of 3-4, and they are coming off of a 101-64 rout of Michigan-Dearborn. They utilize a balanced attack offensively with Marius Grazulis and Luke Toliver each averaging double-digit scoring. Grazulis has also made an impact defensively, blocking a shot in all but one contest, including two blocks in four of his first seven games. Grand Valley is set to face Ferris State on the road before making the trip north to the Soo.