LOUISVILLE, Ky. - For the second straight year the Lake Superior State men's basketball team relied on end-game dramatics to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Last year it was Tony Harris hitting a half-court buzzer beater to send the Midwest Regional quarterfinal game against Findlay into overtime. On Saturday against Ferris State, Jake Blake hit a big three-pointer to keep LSSU's season alive. Back-to-back baskets by Blake tied it, 67-67. LSSU went on to dominate in overtime and win 78-69.
The No. 4 seed Lakers (26-6) advance to the regional semifinals and play No. 1 seed Bellarmine (28-3) at 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The Knights, ranked third nationally, avenged their Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament loss to Drury with an 84-60 win.
Lake Superior State, which avenged last Sunday's five-point loss to the Bulldogs (28-9) during the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship, led throughout most of the regional quarterfinal game until Ferris State rekindled its three-point shooting touch. After making only nine field goals and shooting 33.3 percent from the field during the first half, the Bulldogs were 5-of-10 from three-point range and 14-of-28 from the field during the second half.
FSU's Matt Stoll tied it 60-60 with 3:51 remaining in regulation, and the Bulldogs led 67-62 with 48 seconds remaining.
Blake, who finished with 10 points and seven rebounds, hit his three-pointer with 27 seconds to go. A Harris steal and Blake basket off an offensive rebound sent the game into overtime.
Both teams missed during their first overtime possessions. LSSU's Akaemji Williams ignited the scoring with a layup at 3:34. Three FSU misses and a Bulldog turnover led to points by Harris, Akaemji Williams, Alex Williams, giving LSSU a 74-67 lead with 35 seconds remaining.
Jordan Dasuqi and Harris completed LSSU's overtime scoring.
Alex Williams led LSSU with 21 points and six rebounds. He was 5-of-9 from three-point range, tying his season high in triples for the second time. Akaemji Williams totaled 14 points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals. Mike Nicholson turned in six points, seven rebounds and three assists. Harris and Dasuqi combined to score 15 points. Nine Lakers entered the scoring column.
LSSU shot 47.4 percent from the field, including 8-of-19 from three-point range, and made 16-of-26 free throws.
Josh Fleming scored 15 points, and Noah King and James Chappell scored 11 each to lead Ferris State. Drew Lehman, who scored 38 points during the Bulldogs' GLIAC Tournament victory over LSSU, was held to two points. Ferris State shot 37.5 percent from the field, including 10-of-30 from three-point range, and maade 11-of-14 free throws. The Bulldogs out-rebounded LSSU, 41-29.
