MARQUETTE, Mich. — Malek Adams led all scorers with a season-high 26 points as Lake Superior State men's basketball defeated Northern Michigan University 86-66 in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference road game on Thursday night.
Lake Superior State (8-5, 4-3 GLIAC) outscored Northern Michigan (8-6, 3-4 GLIAC) 38-32 in the first half of play. After the game was tied 7-7 with about 16 minutes remaining in the half, Lake State went on a 16-8 run over the next six minutes to push its lead to 23-15 with under 10 minutes to play in the half. However, the Wildcats clawed back with a 13-5 run of their own to tie the game at 28-28 with about four minutes remaining in the period. The Lakers responded with a 10-4 run to close out the half, leading 38-32.
In the second half, the Lakers' lead never fell below six points as they outscored the Wildcats 48-34 in the second half to complete the 86-66 road victory. Northern Michigan remained in striking distance early on in the second half with the score 44-38 and under 15 minutes remaining, but Lake Superior State went on a 14-3 run to extend its lead to 58-41 with about 11 minutes left in regulation. The Lakers remained in control the rest of the game as they cruised to the 86-66 win.
Adams scored 13 points in each half for a season-high 26 points. He has eclipsed the 20-point plateau in five games this season and his previous season high was 24 points, which he had accomplished twice. Adams also grabbed a season-best eight rebounds.
Three other Lakers also recorded double figures in points. Sophomore forward Rog Stein tallied double digits in points for the 11th time this season with 17, while redshirt sophomore Jackson Schrameyer and junior forward Ke'Montrece Collins added 11 points each.
Freshman guard C.J. Robinson matched his career high in scoring with nine points.
Northern Michigan's leading scorer was Naba Echols, who tallied 16 points. The Laker defense held Isaiah Johnson, who entered the game averaging 23.1 points per game, to 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting.
Lake Superior State shot 51.8 percent from the field, including 52.2 percent (12-of-23) on three-pointers, while limiting Northern Michigan to 41.3 percent shooting overall and 26.1 percent (6-of-23) shooting from behind the three-point line.
Lake State returns to action at Michigan Tech at 3 p.m. on Saturday at SDC Gym in Houghton, Michigan.
The Lakers' next home game is on Thursday, Jan. 17 at 7:30 p.m. when they host Wisconsin-Parkside in a conference matchup in Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
Tickets are available online or in-person at the LSSU ticket office. For additional ticket information, call (906) 635-2602. Children ages 13 and under are admitted to all Laker basketball games free of charge.
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