SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State men's basketball team fell to the Michigan Tech Huskies by a final score of 83-70 on Saturday, Jan. 23 in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. in the first game of a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) series.

First Half:

Similar to yesterday's meeting between the two teams, the Lakers started off the game strong. Lake Superior State's success in three point shooting allowed the home team to build a seven point lead over the Huskies in the first two minutes of play. Malek Adams scored consecutive three pointers for the Lakers while Kemon Bassett continued his dominance on the floor with a pair of layups. 

Michigan Tech would respond in the next few minutes of action and would take the lead for the first time in the game with 14:52 remaining in the half (11-10). David Wren, who finished the first half with eight points, would score on a layup with 12:11 left in the half to tie the game at 15. 

After the Huskies built up a four point lead, Wren would answer with a three point jump shot to bring the Lakers back within a point (19-18). 

Justin Fischer, who also had eight points in the first half, would regain the Laker lead with just under nine minutes to play in the half when he scored on a shot from beyond the arc (25-24). Minutes later, Fischer would add a second three pointer to put the Lakers ahead by two points (33-31). 

In the last minute of the opening half, the Huskies would take a one point lead over the Lakers (34-33) when Adam Hobson made a free throw but Bassett would make a layup in the closing seconds to give the Lakers a one point advantage, 35-34, to close out the first twenty minutes of play.

Second Half: 

After a close first half, the Huskies would go on to outscore the Lakers by a 49-35 margin in the second half. 

The Lakers would build a three point lead over the Huskies in the first two minutes of play as Fischer and C.J. Robinson each scored a pair of points. Michigan Tech's Dawson Bilski would tie the game at 39 points each with 17:38 remaining in the half and the Huskies would not trail for the remainder of the game. 

At the 14:36 mark, Colvin scored on a layup and was fouled on by Michigan Tech's Johnston on the play. Colvin, who made the free throw, would bring the Lakers within two points of the Huskies (44-42) but the away team would respond in the next stretch of action. 

Michigan Tech would score 13 of the game's next 17 points to hold an 11 point lead over the Lakers  with just over ten minutes left to play (57-46).

The Lakers would rally in the next few minutes of action as Xander Okerlund brought the Lakers within single digits of the Huskies with a basket from three. Wren and Bassett would each capitalize on a layup to cut the deficit to five points (61-56) with 7:29 left in regulation. 

Despite a solid effort in the final minutes of the game by the Lakers, the home squad was unable to stop the Huskies offense. The game would end with the Huskies clinching the win by a final score of 83-70.

Breaking Down the Game:

Five Lakers recorded double-digit point totals in the game with Wren and Fischer leading the way with 13 points each. Bassett (12 pts.), Colvin (12 pts.), and Adams (11 pts.) rounded out the top five point getters for the Lakers in the game. Fischer also led the team in rebounds with seven and assists with five in the game.  

The Lakers finished the game with a 44.8 shooting percentage, going 26-for-58 in the game. On the other end of the court, the Huskies went 31-for-51 in the game to total a 60.8 shooting percentage. Michigan Tech outrebounded  Lake Superior, 29-23, in the game.

What's Next:

The Lakers will travel to Big Rapids, Mich. for a single game against the Ferris State Bulldogs on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 5:00 p.m.

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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