SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State men's basketball begins Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Play with two road games this week.

Lake Superior State (2-2) plays Ashland (4-0) at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at Kates Gymnasium in Ashland, Ohio, before facing Wayne State (0-4) at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Matthaei Center in Detroit.

Last Time on the Court

The Lakers went 0-2 last week as they played a road game at the University of Indianapolis (now ranked No. 19) on Wednesday and a neutral-site game (played at UIndy) against Southern Indiana on Friday in Indianapolis.

Lake State was edged by UIndy 91-90 in an overtime thriller. Junior forward Ke'Montrece Collins, who scored a team-high 23 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field, including 4-of-6 from behind the arc, took a last second shot from the left wing that rimmed out and time ran out on the Lakers. Collins also garnered seven rebounds.

In their game with Southern Indiana, the Lakers suffered a 110-88 setback. Junior guard Malek Adams was the Lakers' top scorer with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting, while dishing out four assists.

GLIAC Play

Lake Superior State's games at Ashland and Wayne State are the Lakers' first GLIAC games of 2018-19. Last season, LSSU played to a 16-4 record in conference play and reached the GLIAC Championship game.

By the Numbers

Lake Superior State is averaging 82.5 points per game compared to 80.5 by the opposition. LSSU is shooting 49.6 percent from the field, including 40.0 percent from three-point range, while limiting opponents to 43.6 percent shooting and 37.8 percent from behind the three-point arc. The Lakers are averaging 8.5 made three-pointers and 6.8 steals per game. Adams (14.5 points per game), sophomore forward Rog Stein (14.0), senior guard Tim Cairnduff (10.5) and Collins (10.3) are all averaging in double figures in points this season.

GLIAC North Division Player of the Week

Stein was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference Men's Basketball North Division Player of the Week on Nov. 19 after helping the Lakers go 2-0 at the Seawolf Jamboree in Anchorage, Alaska on Nov. 16-17. The Seawolf Jamboree Most Valuable Player averaged 14.5 points per game on 44.4 percent shooting, while dishing out 3.0 assists per game, grabbing 10.0 rebounds per game and recording one double-double. 

Head Coach Steve Hettinga's Preview

Scouting Ashland

The Eagles enter the game with the Lakers having won their first four contests this season, including a 73-62 home win on Nov. 21. Ashland is receiving votes in the NABC Coaches' Poll.

Ashland is scoring 75.0 points per game while holding opponents to 59.0 points per game. The Eagles are shooting 47.2 percent on the season and 28.4 percent on three-point shots, while their opponents are shooting 37.9 percent, including 27.8 percent from behind the arc.

Four Eagles are averaging double figures in points: Rodrick Caldwell (16.3 points per game), Drew Noble (15.3), Derek Koch (14.0) and Ben Haraway (11.3). 

Last season, the Lakers and Eagles split their two regular-season meetings with each team winning at home. LSSU won 82-73 and Ashland won 69-62.

Scouting Wayne State

The Warriors, who will face Ferris State at home on Thursday before facing the Lakers on Saturday, have started the season winless in their first four games. In their last game, Wayne State lost on the road to No. 1 Bellarmine 81-61.  

Wayne State is scoring 69.8 points per game, while allowing 81.0 points per game. The Warriors are shooting 46.4 percent on the season, including 35.1 percent on three-point shots, while their opponents are shooting 50.0 percent and 36.9 percent from behind the arc.

The Warriors are led in scoring by Darian Owens-White (17.3 points per game), Karim Murray (12.5) and Xavier Cochran (11.8). 

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 or in-person at the LSSU ticket office. For additional ticket information, call (906) 635-2602.

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