SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State men's basketball team will return home this weekend to play a two-game series against the Michigan Tech Huskies on Friday, Jan. 22 at 3:00 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 23 at 1:00 p.m. in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. 

Due to COVID-19 related changes in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) scheduling process for the 2021 season, teams will play a pair of games against the same opponent each weekend. 

The Lakers 

Lake Superior State has totaled a 2-2 overall record through the first two weekends of GLIAC play this season, splitting both series up to this point. Last weekend, the Lakers played on the road for the first time this year with a pair of games against the Purdue Northwest Pride. The Lakers won the first game of the series by a final score of 75-64 and fell in the second meeting by just two points, 88-86. 

Following the first two weekends of the 2021 season, the Lakers have been led by a mix of returning players and new faces. Through the first four games of the season, five Lakers are averaging 10 or more points per game. Forward Kemon Bassett, a junior transfer from Schoolcraft Community College, leads the team with 18.5 points per game as well as in rebounds per game with 8.0. Sophomore Nigel Colvin has provided the team a spark off the bench this season as he has averaged a 54.1 shooting percentage and a 55.6 percentage from the three point line to average 14.3 points per game. 

David Wren, a junior guard who also played two seasons at Schoolcraft, led the team last weekend against Purdue Northwest with 34 in the pair of games. Wren has averaged 13.8 points through the first four games this season and has a team-best 58.3 shooting percentage. 

Redshirt senior Malek Adams has averaged 10.8 points per game for the Lakers while junior Justin Fischer (10 points per game) rounds out the Lakers with double-digit point totals this season. 

As a team, the Lakers offense is combining for 78.0 points per game this season, which ranks second among all GLIAC teams, on a 47.1 shooting percentage and a 36.3 percentage from three. Lake Superior has recorded an average of 34.0 rebounds per game this season.

Last Season's Series

Last season, the Lakers and the Huskies played each other twice with Michigan Tech winning both games. The Huskies won the first meeting by a final score of 102-81 on Jan. 16, 2020 in a home game and would record a 69-63 win in Sault Ste. Marie on Feb. 15, 2020. 

Scouting the Huskies

Michigan Tech will travel across the Upper Peninsula this weekend for the team's second consecutive road series of the season. The Huskies are led by head coach Kevin Luke, who is in his 27th season in the role. Last season, Michigan Tech posted a 23-8 overall record (14-6 GLIAC) and was voted to finish in the second spot in the GLIAC North Division standings in the Preseason Poll. 

Last weekend, the Huskies faced off against Northwood on the road and swept the series. Michigan Tech won the first game by a 62-49 final and then closed out the series with a 68-63 win to improve to 3-1 this season. 

The Huskies are led by junior guard Owen White, a preseason All-GLIAC selection, who has averaged 24.5 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game after making his season debut last weekend against Northwood. White was a member of the GLIAC's all-defensive team last season and is the reigning GLIAC North Division Player of the Week.

Senior guard Dawson Bilski is another key part of the Huskies roster as he was also named a preseason All-GLIAC selection and was first team all-conference last season. Through four games this season for the Huskies, Bilski has averaged 11.8 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game. 

Follow the Lakers

Due to State of Michigan, GLIAC and Lake Superior State University mandates, fans are not currently permitted to attend any Laker sporting events. Even though spectators cannot currently attend Laker home games, there are still a number of ways that fans will be able to follow the game action. All Laker home games during the 2021 season will be available to watch live on Stretch TV. For more information or to sign up for a subscription, visit https://portal.stretchinternet.com/lssu/. Fans can also tune in to the radio broadcast on ESPN 1400, the official radio station of Laker basketball.

For more information, visit lssulakers.com

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