SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State men's basketball concludes the 2018-19 regular season against Ferris State, the reigning NCAA Division II National Champions, at 7:30 p.m. EST on Thursday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
Last Time on the Court
Lake Superior State (14-11, 10-9 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) went 1-1 in a pair of road games last week. The Lakers began the week with a 60-58 setback against Parkside on Thursday in Kenosha, Wisconsin, before bouncing back to defeat Purdue Northwest 82-72 on Saturday in Westville, Indiana.
In their win over Purdue Northwest, four Lakers scored in double figures: sophomore forward Rog Stein (16 points), junior forward Malek Adams (16), senior forward Blake Marquardt (14) and senior guard Tim Cairnduff (13). Junior forward Ke'Montrece Collins grabbed a game-high eight rebounds for the Lakers.
Team Leaders
Junior guard Malek Adams leads the Lakers in scoring average with 16.9 points per game on 49.1 percent shooting this season. Adams has scored in double figures in 18 of his 23 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 eighth-highest scoring average in the GLIAC this season.
Sophomore forward Rog Stein leads the team in rebounds per game (7.8) and steals per game (1.8), while averaging the second-most points per game (14.4). Stein also leads the team with six double-doubles on the season. His most recent double-double was a 13-point, 10-rebound performance at Parkside on Thursday.
Senior guard Tim Cairnduff is third on the team in scoring average with 10.5 points per game. Cairnduff is also the team leader in assists per game (3.2).
All-Time Three-Point Shooter
Senior forward Blake Marquardt leads the Lakers with 58 made three-pointers this season. A 44.7 percent career three-point shooter, Marquardt ranks 10th in program history with 199 made three-pointers in his career. Jordan Dasuqi (2013-17) and Micah Hudson (2007-11) are eighth and ninth on the all-time three-point list with 205 and 203 made career three-pointers, respectively.
By the Numbers
Lake Superior State is averaging 80.6 points per game of offense, while holding its opponents to 75.7 points per game. LSSU is shooting 48.6 percent from the field, including 39.8 percent from three-point range. Lake State's opponents are shooting 45.2 percent overall and 33.8 percent from behind the three-point arc. The Lakers are averaging 16.7 assists per game compared to 12.4 turnovers.
Scouting Ferris State
Ferris State (20-10, 12-7 GLIAC) enters Thursday's game having won four of its last five games. However, the Bulldogs' lost their most recent game 66-59 at Parkside on Saturday.
Senior guard DeShaun Thrower is the Bulldogs' team leader in points per game (14.1).
Earlier this season, the Lakers lost to the Bulldogs 97-76 on Jan. 26 in Big Rapids, Michigan. Junior guard Malek Adams led the Lakers with a double-double (30 points, 10 rebounds) in the Lakers' previous meeting with the Bulldogs.
Looking Ahead
The Lakers have clinched a berth in the 2019 GLIAC Men's Basketball Tournament. The Lakers will play a road game at a yet to be determined opponent on Tuesday.
90s Throwback Night
This Thursday is 90s Throwback Night. Come to the game wearing your favorite 90s apparel and cheer on your Lakers.
Ticket
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.