SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State men's basketball team will continue conference play this week as the team travels to Big Rapids, Mich. for a game on Thursday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. against Ferris State and will return home to Sault Ste. Marie for a Saturday afternoon game on Jan. 22 against the Northwood University Timberwolves at 3:00 p.m. in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium.
Last Time Out
The Lakers look to get back to their winning ways this weekend after dropping a game to the Grand Valley State Lakers last Saturday. Following last weekend's game, the Lakers have totaled a 9-4 overall record and a 4-3 mark in GLIAC competition.
In last Saturday's game at Grand Valley, the Lakers were led by Malek Adams, who continues to lead the team offensively, as he posted 19 points in the game. The senior guard finished the game with a 53.3 shooting percentage while also scoring a team-best three three-pointers. Adams also added four rebounds, four assists and a steal for the Lakers. Bassett ranked second on the team with 16 points against Grand Valley while also adding four rebounds and four assists. Freshman Kingsley Perkins led the team with six rebounds in the 82-59 loss.
The Lakers
The Lakers are led by Steve Hettinga, the all-time winningest coach in Laker Basketball history, who enters his 15th season in the role. Assistant coach Ted Stowe returns for his fifth season in the role on Hettinga's staff while assistant coach Hugh Clarke joins the staff for his first season. Through the first 13 games of the season, the Lakers have averaged 80.1 points per game, which ranks third in the GLIAC, on a 46.1 shooting percentage and 31.7 rebounds per game.
Lake Superior State will be led by a strong senior class which includes returners Kemon Bassett, Malek Adams, C.J. Robinson, David Wren, Justin Fischer and transfer Caden Ebeling, who joins the Lakers after a solid career at Albion College. Hettinga will look to this group's leadership on-and-off the court this season. Bassett, who was recently named to the All-GLIAC North Preseason Team.
For their play during the 2020-21 season, junior forward Kemon Bassett was named First Team All-GLIAC, redshirt senior guard Malek Adams was named Second Team All-GLIAC and junior guard C.J. Robinson was named to the All-GLIAC Defensive Team.
Lake Superior State will also be returning a junior class of Dan Few and Xander Okerlund as well as sophomores Blake Cassidy and Andy Soma.
Hettinga's squad will welcome a large freshman class this season with seven student-athletes joining the Lakers. The freshman class includes three players from Ann Arbor Huron High School (Tyson Edmondson, Kingsley Perkins and Devin Womack) who will look to build on their chemistry and success from their high school careers at the collegiate level. The remaining first-year players include Drew Hess, a 6-2 guard from Oscoda, Mich., Ben Patrick, a 6-2 guard from Oklahoma City, Okla., Kendall Smith, a 6-8 forward from Muskegon, Mich., and Hunter Soper, a 6-6 forward/guard from Lexington, Mich.
Leading the Lakers
Through the first 13 games of the 2021-22 season, four Lakers have averaged double-digit point per game totals. Adams leads the team with 20.0 points per game which is second-best in the conference. In addition, Adams' 49.4 shooting percentage ranks in the top twenty among all GLIAC players who have played in at least 60% of their team's games this season. Bassett ranks second among his teammates in points per game with 15.8. Ebeling follows with 14.8 points per game while Xander Okerlund (11.1) rounds out the team's double-digit scorers. Justin Fischer (9.2 ppg) and C.J. Robinson (9.1 ppg) are just outside the double-digit mark this season for the Lakers. Fischer's 53.3% shooting percentage ranks 11th overall in the conference.
Freshman Tyson Edmondson's 58.6 shooting percentage from three this season leads all GLIAC players.
In addition to his offensive play, Fischer (5.5) ranks first on the team in rebounds. Fischer, who is averaging 30.4 minutes on the floor per game, ranks first on the Lakers and in the conference in assists per game with 5.8. Adams ranks fifth among all GLIAC players in assists per game (3.9) and leads the conference in steals per game (2.2).
The Ferris State Bulldogs
The Ferris State Bulldogs have totaled a 12-3 overall record through 15 games this season and hold a perfect 7-0 mark in conference play. Most recently, the Bulldogs defeated Grand Valley State by a 83-76 final score to extend their win streak to three games. The Bulldogs have averaged a GLIAC-best 90.8 points per game this season on a 50.8 shooting percentage while also averaging 40.4 rebounds per game. Ferris State is led by redshirt senior guard Walt Kelser who is currently leading the GLIAC in points per game with 20.2 this season. Through 15 games, Kelser has totaled a 47.2 shooting percentage and a 42.2 mark when shooting from three. The Bulldogs have three more players who are averaging double-digit point totals: Dorian Aluyi (13.5), Ben Davidson (13.5), and Lee Higgins (10.8). Aluyi, a senior guard, leads his teammates in rebounds per game with 7.2 this season. Ferris State is coached by Andy Bronkema, who is in his ninth season in the role for the Bulldogs.
The Northwood University Timberwolves
The Northwood Timberwolves have combined for a 3-8 overall record this season through 11 games played, which includes a 1-3 record in GLIAC competition. The Timberwolves have not yet played a game in 2022 as the team has been impacted by postponements due to COVID. Through 11 games this season, Northwood averages 74.1 points per game on a 45.6 shooting percentage while adding 35.8 rebounds per game. The Timberwolves are led by senior guard Jack Ammerman who enters the weekend tied for third in the conference with 19.0 points per game. Ammerman's 50.8 shooting percentage from three is tied for second-best in the GLIAC. Sophomore forward DeSean Munson (12.6 ppg), senior guard Trevor Davis (12.0 ppg), and sophomore guard Maurion Scott (11.3 ppg) round out the Timberwolves double-digit point scorers this season. Munson leads the team with 6.9 rebounds per game. Northwood is led by head coach Lonnie Griffin, who is in his second season as head coach of the Timberwolves.
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