MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State men's basketball team earned a 74-72 over the Northern Michigan Wildcats in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) game on Saturday, Dec. 11 in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. With the victory, the Lakers overall record sits at 6-2 and 2-2 in GLIAC competition.
Malek Adams opened the game with a three-pointer on the first possession to give the Lakers a 3-0 lead. By the 16:44 mark of the first half, the Lakers held an 8-3 lead over the Wildcats as Adams netted all eight points for the Lakers to open the game.
After five minutes of play had passed, the Wildcats began to pull closer (10-8) but the Lakers would hold onto the lead as they scored the next eight points to go ahead by double digits (18-8). Adams extended the lead to 11 points at 12:20 of the first half with his second three of the game.
Northern Michigan responded by going on an eight-point run of their own to come back within three points of the Lakers (21-18). After close play through the next stretch of play, the Wildcats were able to overtake the lead at the 7:24 mark of the first half (26-25). With 4:28 left in the first half, the Wildcats had built their lead up to six points (33-27) when Justin Brookens made a three point jump shot.
David Wren followed with a three pointer of his own on the next possession (33-30) and Justin Fischer evened the game at 33 when he made a free throw with 2:39 left on the clock. Northern Michigan made a jump shot with six seconds left in the half to take a two-point lead into the second half (39-37).
Adams tied the game at 39 early into the second half with a field goal. The Lakers regained the lead in the first two minutes of the second half after Xander Okerlun and C.J. Robinson made back-to-back jump shots to give the Lakers a one-point advantage (43-42) at the 18:02 mark.
As the second half played on, the two U.P. rivals continued to play tight as the lead changed often between the two. Fischer regained the Laker lead with a jump shot at 13:13 of the half and Robinson again regained the lead at 12:41 with a jumper of his own (51-50). By the 10 minute mark of the half, the game was tied at 55.
Adams tied the game at 60 with a free throw and gave the Lakers a one-point lead (61-60) after he made the second attempt as well. Okerlund hit a three point jump shot with 5:35 on the clock to build a four-point lead over the Wildcats (66-62).
Despite a strong final push in the closing minutes, the Lakers would hold onto the lead and hold off the Wildcats to secure the well-earned 74-72 conference win.
Breaking Down the Win:
Adams led the team with 23 points in the win as he went 7-for-15 in the game including a team-high two three pointers. Adams also went 7-for-8 from the free throw line while also contributing five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. Wren ranked second on the team in points with 15 as he went 6-for-9 off the bench for the Lakers.
Fischer rounded out the top three scorers on the team with 11 points in the game as he posted a double-double in the win as he also added 10 rebounds. In addition to leading the team in rebounds, Fischer also led the Lakers in assists with seven in the win.
The Lakers finished the game with a 48.3 shooting percentage, going 29-for-60 in the game. On the other end of the floor, the Wildcats went 28-for-56 in the game to total a 50.0 shooting percentage. The Wildcats outrebounded the Lakers, 29-28, in the game.
Up Next
The Lakers will take part in a holiday tournament in Melbourne, Fla. on Sunday, Dec. 19 and Monday, Dec. 20. The first game will be played against Lynn University at 4:30 p.m. and the Lakers will play the tournament host, Florida Tech, on Monday at 7:00 p.m.
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