BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The Lake Superior State University men's basketball team (5-8, 4-1 GLIAC) picked up a key Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory on the road against the Bulldogs of Ferris State (11-5, 2-3 GLIAC) by a final score of 78-72 on Saturday, handing the Bulldogs their first loss at home this season.

A pair of baskets from Caden Ebeling (Shelby Twp., Mich.) and Kingsley Perkins (Ypsilanti, Mich.) gave the Lakers an early 4-0 lead. Both teams would continue to battle back and forth, but the Bulldogs were able to pull ahead with an 8-1 run to claim a 25-16 advantage. However, the Lakers pushed back as Perkins was able to convert a tough layup while being fouled to get back to within four, and Ebeling would go on to close out the first half with four straight points to give his team momentum going into the locker room while trailing 31-36.

Both teams battled early in the second half, including eight points from Ebeling who was able to answer the Bulldogs blow for blow, and an and-one opportunity from Xander Okerlund (Empire, Mich.) cut the lead down to a single point before David Wren (Ypsilanti, Mich.) gave his team a 51-49 lead. The Bulldogs would retake the lead, but Okerlund was there to respond with back-to-back threes to put his team back in front. Ferris State tied up the score at 57-57, but, once again, the Lakers would let it fly, this time with a three from C.J. Robinson (Clarkston, Mich.). The Lakers would always seem to have an answer for every time the Bulldogs retook the lead, including back-to-back threes from Ebeling as they battled to a 72-72 tie, but after clutch free throws from Ebeling to take the lead and a defensive stop at the other end, Wren and Okerlund were able to ice the game away at the charity stripe, securing the hard-fought 78-72 victory.

Ebeling led the way offensively with 27 points to lead all players in scoring. Wren finished the night with 18 points off the bench, shooting a perfect 12-12 from the free throw line, and Okerlund was not far behind with 17 points of his own. Meanwhile, Perkins led all players in rebounding with eight.

The Lakers return to action on Thursday, Jan. 12 when they host the Rangers of Wisconsin-Parkside with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.