SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.— The Lake Superior State men's basketball team rolled past its cross-river rival Algoma (Ontario) Monday evening, 111-66, in a non-conference matchup inside Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

The Lakers improve to 11-1 overall notching their eighth-straight win. The Thunderbirds fall to 4-7 on their season.

Lake State shot a 63.2 percent from the field in the win with a 57.1 percent clip from three-point range. Algoma shot 43.6 and 33.3 percent. LSSU owned the 35-20 rebounding advantage.

Senior forward Michael Nicholson led the team offensively and on the glass with 21 points and 7 rebounds. Blake Marquardt finished with 17 points and was 5-of-7 from behind the arc.

Freshman guard Brandon Allen saw extended minutes in the win posting a career-high 12 points on a 5-of-7 performance from the field. Rog Stein added 10 points.

Elijah Butler led the Thunderbirds with 19 points five rebounds. Ian Nash tallied 13 points.

The Laker are back in action on Dec.30 as they travel to non-confrence Southern Indiana . LSSU returns in 2018 to host Davenport (Jan.4) in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference tilt at 7 p.m.

The LSSU Athletics After Christmas Sale will take place online Dec.26-Jan.2 allowing fans to purchase up to four tickets for one dollar each to any one of the remaining home hockey games or basketball double-headers. For more information, visit lssulakers.com.