SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – The Lake Superior State men’s basketball team posted an 88-63 victory over the Lewis University Flyers on Saturday, Nov. 27 in a nonconference game in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. With the win, the Lakers improve to a 4-0 record this season.
First Half:
The Lakers jumped out to a nine point lead over the Flyers to start the game, scoring the first nine points of the contest. Caden Ebeling scored the first two baskets of the game for the Lakers and Xander Okerlund‘s first three-pointer of the game put the Lakers up 9-0 with 17:25 remaining in the half.
Malek Adams netted a three-pointer at 15:50 to put the Lakers up by double digits (12-2) and Ebeling followed with his third field goal of the game for a 14-2 Laker lead.
In the next stretch of the first half, the Flyers pulled within eight points of the Lakers (18-10) but the Lakers would respond by scoring seven of the next nine points. C.J. Robinson capped off the run with a three-pointer to give the Lakers a 25-12 lead.
After Lewis answered with a three of their own and a layup to come back within single digits (25-17), sophomore Blake Cassidy netted a shot from beyond the arc with 7:28 left in the half. With under five minutes left in the half, Robinson made his second three to put the home squad ahead by 15 points (36-15).
The Lakers closed out the first half strong, scoring the final nine points of the half. Ebeling led the team with four points in the final minutes as the first twenty minutes ended with the Lakers leading 45-23.
Second Half:
The second half started with the two teams trading three pointers, as Adams made his second three of the game for the Lakers. At 16:15 of the half, Okerlund made a three and followed with a defensive rebound on the next possession. Adams scored his second three of the half on the next play to give the Lakers a 26 point lead (56-30).
With 14:38 left to play in the game, David Wren made a three pointer to give the Lakers a 30-point lead over the Flyers (60-30). After the Flyers went on a five point run, Robinson scored the game’s next three points as he made three straight free throws (63-35).
Sophomore Andy Soma scored his first points of the game as he made a three pointer with 11:38 left on the clock for a 66-35 Laker advantage.
Near the halfway point of the half, Lewis went on an eight point scoring run but Soma’s second three of the half would stop the Flyers from coming any closer. The Lakers led by 25 points (70-45) with 9:02 remaining in the game.
In the final nine minutes of play, the Lakers would hold off the Flyers by a final score of 88-67 to record their fourth win of the season in as many games.
Breaking Down the Win:
Adams led the Lakers in the win with 17 points in the game as the senior guard went 6-for-12 from the field and scored a team-leading four three pointers. Adams also posted six assists in the game to rank second on the team. Ebeling ranked second on the team in points (14) and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Robinson had a strong game for the Lakers as he totaled 13 points, including 5-for-6 in free throw attempts. Robinson added five assists in the win and a pair of rebounds.
Fischer, who led the team in minutes (32), ranked first among his teammates in rebounds (10) and assists (8) against Lewis.
The Lakers finished the game with a 53.4 shooting percentage, going 31-for-58 in the game. On the other end of the floor, the Flyers went 26-for-55 in the game to total a 47.3 shooting percentage.The Lakers outrebounded the Flyers 30-26 in the game.
What’s Next
The Lakers will begin conference play at the home court on Thursday, Dec. 2 as the team hosts the Wisconsin Parkside Rangers at 7:30 p.m. in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium. LSSU will follow with a home contest against the Purdue Northwest Pride on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 3:00 p.m. to wrap up the first weekend of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play.
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