SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State men's basketball faces Ferris State in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference North Division matchup at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Big Rapids, Michigan.
Lake Superior State (10-6, 6-4 GLIAC) and Ferris State (14-7, 6-4 GLIAC) enter the game in a three-way tie with Parkside atop the GLIAC North Division.
Last Time on the Court
Lake Superior State, which has won four of its last five games played, were edged by Parkside 83-81 on a buzzer-beating shot at home on Jan. 17, before rebounding to defeat Purdue Northwest 101-69 on Saturday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
In the Lakers' win over Purdue Northwest, eleven different Lakers scored, including three who scored in double figures: sophomore forward Rog Stein (22 points), junior forward Ke'Montrece Collins (19) and sophomore guard Brandon Allen (10). Stein also grabbed 10 rebounds to record his fifth double-double of the season. Allen's 10 points were a season high.
Team Leaders
Junior guard Malek Adams leads the Lakers in scoring average with 17.3 points per game on 48.5 percent shooting. Adams has scored in double figures in 11 of his 14 games played this season, including seven games with at least 20 points. His most recent 20-point effort came against Parkside when he scored 24 points.
Sophomore forward Rog Stein leads the team in rebounds per game (8.1), assists per game (3.5) and steals per game (1.9), while averaging the second-most points per game (15.6). Stein also leads the team with five double-doubles on the season. His most recent double-double was a 22 point and 10 rebound effort in the Lakers' 101-69 win over Purdue Northwest.
Senior guard Tim Cairnduff is third on the team in scoring average with 10.3 points per game.
By the Numbers
Lake Superior State is averaging 82.6 points per game of offense compared to 79.8 by its opponents. LSSU is shooting 49.7 percent from the field, including 40.7 percent from three-point range. LSSU is limiting its opponents to 45.6 percent shooting and 34.6 percent from behind the three-point arc. The Lakers are averaging 17.3 assists per game compared to 12.4 turnovers.
Head Coach Steve Hettinga's Preview
Scouting Ferris State
Ferris State (14-7, 6-4 GLIAC), the reigning NCAA Division II Basketball Champion, enters Saturday's game on a three-game winning streak. Last week, the Bulldogs won a pair of road games – defeating Purdue Northwest 99-77 on Jan. 17 and Parkside 98-81 on Saturday.
The Bulldogs, which average 88.0 points per game of offense, are led in scoring average by DeShaun Thrower (16.3 points per game).
The Lakers went 0-4 against the Bulldogs last season, but the point differential was less than 10 points in two of those games.
Looking Ahead
The Lakers return to action with a road game at Northwood in Midland, Michigan on Jan. 31 at 8 p.m.
Lake Superior State returns home to face Wayne State on Thursday, Feb. 7 and Ashland on Saturday, Feb. 9.
Tickets
Tickets for Laker basketball home games can be purchased online or in person at the LSSU ticket office. For additional ticket information, please call (906) 635-2602. Children ages 13 and under are admitted to all Laker basketball home games free of charge.
Follow
Be sure to follow the Lakers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information and behind-the-scenes action.