Mar 10, 2009

Help give the Laker men's basketball team a big send-off at 1 p.m. Thursday

SAULT STE. MARIE - From a selection show party to a public send-off, the Lake Superior State men's basketball is making the most of its NCAA Tournament invitation.

The public is invited to help give the Lakers (21-8) a rousing send-off at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Norris Center. The team will be departing for Findlay, Ohio, where it will compete in the 2009 NCAA Midwest Regional. The Lakers will attend practice and a banquet on Friday and play Northern Kentucky in a first-round matchup at noon Saturday.

"It's been fun seeing the enthusiasm build for our men's basketball team through the course of this season, and we are proud of Coach Hettinga, his staff and his players," said Kris Dunbar, LSSU Director of Athletics. "They set a lofty goal of getting to the NCAA Tournament and achieved it. Lots of teams set that goal, but many things have to happen for them to get to that level. I credit the seniors for their determination and leadership and hope this is only the beginning of many great seasons of LSSU men's basketball.

"Local basketball fans and the Lake Superior State campus have supported this team throughout the season, and we hope they will give the team a warm send-off when they leave for Ohio on Thursday."

Tickets for the tournament are $10 for a limited number of reserved seats, $8 for general admission and $4 for students and children. Separate tickets for each session must be purchased. Call 419-434-6684 or 419-434-4663 to order tickets. Gates will open at 11 a.m. Saturday for the first session, which also includes a first-round game between No. 7 Kentucky Wesleyan (19-8) and No. 2 Bellarmine (24-6).

A post-game reception for LSSU alumni and fans will run from 2-3 p.m. Saturday in the Lape Great Hall in the Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion. This is just 2 buildings over from the gym.

Saturday's second session pits No. 8 Grand Valley State (21-9) vs. No. 1 Findlay (30-0) at 6 p.m., and No. 5 Rockhurst (19-10) vs. No. 4 Southern Indiana (26-6) at 8:30 p.m.

First session winners will play at 5 p.m. on Sunday, and the other semifinal game will follow. The championship game is at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

"We are exceptionally proud of the marvelous performance by LSSU's men's basketball team this season," LSSU President Rodney L. Lowman said. "Thanks to Coach Hettinga and an
outstanding team of players and assistants. The team has had an incredible season. We wish them all the best on the upcoming regional tournament."

Northern Kentucky won the Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division title and beat Bellarmine 69-47 in the GLVC Tournament finals last Sunday. The Norse, who avenged a Feb. 26 eight-point loss to the Knights, were led by tournament most-valuable player Leslie Malone, who totaled 15 rebounds and a tournament-record eight blocked shots.

Sophomore guard Dustin Maguire (6-5) averages 15.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game to lead the Norse. Malone, a 6-7 senior forward, averages 12.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, followed by 6-5 senior forward DaAaron Williams at 12.0 ppg and 5.5 rpg. NKU is the top defensive team in the GLVC, allowing 62.8 points per game.

LSSU, led by All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team players Ryan Kuhl and Tim VanOudheusden, will test Northern Kentucky with its scoring range and ability to take care of the basketball. The Lakers are ranked second nationally in three-point field-goal percentage (.427), third in average turnovers per game (11.2) and fourth in assist/turnover ratio (1.46).

Kuhl and VanOudheusden, and fellow seniors Mark Morse, Mike Rader and Anthony Gibson are leading the Lakers to the second NCAA Tournament appearance in the program's 63-year history. LSSU's other appearance was in 1996 when the Lakers lost in the first round to Indianapolis.

"I would say we're happier to have little better seed than just getting in," LSSU second-year coach Steve Hettinga said. "That's a complement to the season we had to receive the sixth bid. For anybody who gets in, you feel like it's a good season to that point. It's another chance keep playing basketball, keep practicing this week and keep this team together as long as we can."

For more information regarding the tournament and live stats, go to http://www.findlay.edu/ncaabasketball2009/TOURNAMENT%20HOME.aspx.

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