SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State University men's basketball team (11-13, 10-6 GLIAC) fell to the Ferris State Bulldogs (21-6, 12-4 GLIAC) by a final score of 72-58 on Saturday.

The Lakers pushed ahead early as Andy Soma (Traverse City, Mich.) found Tyson Edmondson (Ypsilanti, Mich.) for three to give their team a 16-7 advantage, but the Bulldogs battled back to tie up the score. Both teams would then go back and forth for the remainder of the half with a pair of free throws from senior Kemon Bassett (Detroit, Mich.) tying the game at 27-27, but a late Bulldog three would have the Lakers trailing 30-27 going into the locker room.

Ferris State started to slowly pull ahead early in the second half but Bassett would hit a three off of a feed from fellow senior C.J. Robinson (Clarkston, Mich.) to get back to within four. However, the Bulldogs were able to nurse and extend their lead, and despite tough work down low from Bassett, Ferris State would hold on to secure the victory.

Bassett led the way offensively for the Lakers with 21 points while also rounding out a solid outing with five rebounds and four assists. Meanwhile, Caden Ebeling (Shelby Twp., Mich.) finished with 16 points of his own while leading the team with seven rebounds. 

The Lakers return to action on Thursday, Feb. 23 when they travel to take on Grand Valley with home court advantage in the GLIAC quarterfinals potentially on the line.