SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State men's basketball plays its last two regular season Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference road games this week.
Lake Superior State (13-10, 9-8 GLIAC) faces Parkside (12-11, 10-7 GLIAC) at 8:30 p.m. EST on Thursday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, before meeting Purdue Northwest (7-18, 3-14 GLIAC) at 2 p.m. EST on Saturday in Westville, Indiana.
Last Time on the Court
Lake Superior State went 0-2 at home last week — dropping games to Michigan Tech 74-71 and Northern Michigan 73-68 on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
Team Leaders
Junior guard Malek Adams leads the Lakers in scoring average with 17.6 points per game on 50.2 percent shooting this season. Adams has scored in double figures in 17 of his 21 games played this season, including 10 games with at least 20 points. Adams scored a career-high 30 points at Ferris State on Jan. 26 in Big Rapids, Michigan. His most recent 20-point game was a 21-point performance in the Lakers' 77-66 win over then-No. 15 Ashland on Feb. 9 at Bud Cooper Gymnasium. Adams has the sixth-highest scoring average in the GLIAC this season.
Sophomore forward Rog Stein leads the team in rebounds per game (7.7) and steals per game (1.8), while averaging the second-most points per game (14.4). 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 on Jan. 19 inside Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
Senior guard Tim Cairnduff is third on the team in scoring average with 10.4 points per game. Cairnduff is also the team leader in assists per game (3.3).
By the Numbers
Lake Superior State is averaging 81.6 points per game of offense, while holding its opponents to 76.5 points per game. LSSU is shooting 49.2 percent from the field, including 40.2 percent from three-point range. Lake State's opponents are shooting 45.4 percent overall and 34.8 percent from behind the three-point arc. The Lakers are averaging 16.6 assists per game compared to 12.2 turnovers.
Head Coach Steve Hettinga's Preview
Scouting Parkside
Parkside 12-11 (10-7 GLIAC) enters Thursday's game with Lake Superior State having lost its last two games – falling at Wayne State (71-70) and at then-No. 20 Ashland (68-48) on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
Redshirt senior forward Chavares Flanigan is the Rangers' team leader in points per game (13.8).
Earlier this season, the Lakers lost to the Rangers 83-81 on Jan. 17 at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
Scouting Purdue Northwest
Purdue Northwest (7-18, 3-14 GLIAC) enters the week on a three-game losing streak, including losses at then-No. 20 Ashland (84-56) and Wayne State (90-74) on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. Before facing Lake Superior State, Purdue Northwest faces Ferris State on Thursday.
The Pride are led in scoring average by Dean Tate (10.3 points per games) and Anthony Barnard (10.2).
In their first meeting of the season, the Lakers defeated the Pride 101-69 on Jan. 19 at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
Looking Ahead
The Lakers conclude the regular season with a game against Ferris State, the reigning NCAA Division II National Champions, at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 28 inside Bud Cooper Gymnasium. The Lakers are holding 90s Throwback Night. Come to the game wearing your favorite 90s apparel and cheer on your Lakers.
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.
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