SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State men's basketball team recorded an 81-71 victory in their first nonconference game of the 2021-22 season as the team hosted the Westminster Griffins for the first of two games this weekend in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
First Half:
At the end of the first half, the game was tied at 36.
After the Griffins scored the first jump shot of the game, the Lakers took a 5-2 lead as junior Xander Okerlund made a three-pointer and a layup on back-to-back plays.Within the first two minutes of action, the Griffins tied the game at five.
With 13:26 left to play in the first half, the Griffins had extended their lead to seven points (15-8) as the team made its second three of the game. C.J. Robinson made consecutive free throw attempts and Justin Fischer made a layup to pull the Lakers within three points (15-12). Another two layups by Fischer regained the lead for the Lakers as the halfway point of the half passed (16-15).
With 6:17 left in the half, freshman Tyson Edmondon gave the Lakers a three-point lead as he made a basket from behind the arc (23-20). Caden Ebeling, who finished the first half with a team-high 10 points, scored six consecutive Laker points as the teams were tied at 29 with 3:29 left in the half.
Both teams recorded seven points, including a three-pointer by Robinson, in the final 3:17 of the half as the first twenty minutes ended tied at 36.
Second Half:
The Lakers second half was highlighted by a strong performance by Malek Adams, who scored the first three points of the quarter with a three-pointer at 19:43. After the Griffins pulled ahead by five points (44-39) within the first three minutes, Adams would spark the Lakers with a run of four straight threes for the Lakers. With 13:33 left to play in regulation, the Lakers led by six points (55-49).
After Westminster brought the game within two points (55-53) with 12:37 left, the Lakers went on a seven point run which included a pair of layups from Ebeling and a three from Okerlund to hold a nine point lead (62-53).
Edmondson added five more points in the next stretch of play with a jump shot and a three pointer as the Lakers held a 13 point lead (69-56) with just over seven minutes remaining on the clock.
The Lakers held onto the lead in the closing minutes of the game as the home team posted an 81-71 win over the Griffins to open the season with a 1-0 record.
Breaking Down the Game: Adams led the Lakers with 22 points in the game as he went 6-for-12 in the game, including 5-for-10 from three. Adams was also perfect from the free throw line, going 5-for-5 against the Griffins. Ebeling ranked second on the team with 18 points as he registered six field goals, and went 6-for-7 from the free throw line. Okerlund rounded out the top three scorers for the Lakers in the game as the junior guard totaled 12 points, including a pair of three pointers. Okerlund and Fischer were tied for the team-lead in rebounds as both Lakers totaled six against the Griffins.
Fischer had a strong game for the Lakers as the senior guard posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists for the Lakers.
The Lakers finished the game with a 45.6 5 shooting percentage, going 26-for-57 in the game. On the other end of the floor, the Griffins went 26-for-51 in the game to total a 51.0 shooting percentage. Westminster outrebounded Lake Superior State, 34-25, in the game.
What's Next
The Lakers and Griffins will close out the weekend pair of games tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
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