SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — The Lake Superior State men's basketball team begins regular season play this weekend with a pair of games as part of the Seawolf Jamboree, hosted by Alaska Anchorage at Alaska Airlines Center.

Lake Superior State faces Alaska (0-3) in its season opener at 4 p.m. on Friday before facing Alaska Anchorage (3-1) at 9 p.m. on Saturday.

Season Opener:

The Lakers are playing their first two regular-season games of 2018-19. In an exhibition contest against Olivet College on Oct. 27, Lake Superior State won 102-92 inside Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

Continued Success:

Lake Superior State is looking to continue its success from a year ago when the Lakers went 25-18 (16-4 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference). LSSU made the finals of the GLIAC Tournament and the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Semifinals in 2017-18.

On the Road:

Lake State opens the season with a neutral-site game and a road game. Last season, the Lakers garnered a 7-1 record in neutral-site games and a 6-7 mark in away games.

Offense:

Last season, the Lakers averaged 79.5 points per game on 48.7 percent shooting, including 38.1 percent from three-point range. LSSU averaged 16 assists per game. Junior guard Malek Adams and senior forward Blake Marquardt lead all returners in scoring from last year's team.

Adams averaged 9.2 points per game on 53.9 percent shooting, including 38.6 percent from three-point range in 2017-18. Marquardt scored 8.7 points per game last season, while shooting 49.7 percent on both two-point and three-point shots.

Both players were efficient from the free throw line – with Marquardt converting at an 86.7 percent clip and Adams shooting 83.5 percent from the charity stripe.  

Defense:

The Lakers limited their opposition to 69.5 points per game on 46.4 percent shooting, including 34.6 percent from behind the three-point arc, last season.

Scouting the Nanooks: 

The Nanooks (0-3) have yet to win in 2018-19 – dropping each of their first three games, including an 86-80 defeat in a road game with University of Hawaii at Hilo on Monday.

Alaska is averaging 74.7 points per game on 43.4 percent shooting and is paced offensively by Aushanti Potts-Woods, who is scoring a team-leading 17.3 points per game. Michael Kluting (13.7 points per game), Alex Baham (12.7) and Spencer Sweet (10.3) are the other Nanooks averaging double figures in points.

Defensively, Alaska is surrendering 82.3 points per game and its opponents are shooting 49.4 percent from the field.

Scouting the Seawolves:

The Seawolves (3-1) started the 2018-19 season 3-0 before losing at Chaminade University 71-62 on Saturday in Honolulu, Hawaii.   

Offensively, Alaska Anchorage is averaging 75.0 points per game, while shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 39.0 percent from behind the three-point line. Three players are averaging double figures in points for the Seawolves: Tyler Brimhall (21.5 points per game) Niko Bevens (16.8) and Jack Macdonald (13.5).

Defensively, Alaska Anchorage is allowing 72.0 points per game and the opposition is shooting 43.9 percent, including 34.4 percent on three-point shots.    

Watch:

Video is available here and live stats are available here. 

Looking Ahead:

The Lakers return to the court at University of Indianapolis as part of the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover on Nov. 21 at 3:15 p.m.

First Home Game:

The Lakers will play their first regular-season home game against Saginaw Valley State University on Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available online at lssulakers.com or in-person at the LSSU ticket office. For additional ticket information, call (906) 635-2602.

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