MIDLAND, Mich. - The Lake Superior State men's basketball team recorded an 86-70 loss to the Northwood University Timberwolves on Friday, Feb. 12 at the Riepma Arena in Midland, Mich. in the opening game of a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) series this weekend.
First Half
Kemon Bassett opened the game's scoring with a pair of layups in the first minute of play to give the Lakers an early 4-0 lead. C.J. Robinson, who recorded a steal that led to Bassett's second layup, would put the Lakers up by four points with 16:49 left in the opening half with a three pointer.
After the Timberwolves brought the score within two points, the Lakers scored six straight points to hold an eight point lead (13-5) with 14:36 left in the half. Northwood's offense would respond with an eight point run in the following minutes to tie the game at 13 by the halfway point of the first half.
The score would remain tied for the next three minutes as neither team scored again until Justin Fischer made a layup with 7:36 left in the half to give the Lakers a 15-13 lead.
Malek Adams made back-to-back three pointers for the Lakers to put the visiting team ahead by seven points with just under five minutes left in the opening half (22-15). In the final minutes of the half, the two teams would exchange points and the first twenty minutes closed with the Lakers leading, 28-25.
Second Half
Northwood would outscore the Lakers, 61-42, in the second half to split the weekend series.
David Wren scored the first five points of the half for the Lakers as LSSU held a 33-32 lead over the Timberwolves after two minutes of play. Adams and Bassett both added layups to keep the game close with Northwood holding a three point lead (40-37) with 15:50 remaining on the clock.
In the following stretch of play, the Timberwolves would score 12 of the game's next 13 points to hold a 52-38 lead with 12:36 left.
Adams snapped the run for Northwood as he made a three point jumper to bring the Lakers within 11 points with over 12 minutes still left to play (52-41).
With just under five minutes left, Bassett made a layup to cut the Lakers deficit to 12 points (69-57) but the Lakers could not stop the Timberwolves offense in the final minutes of play.
The game ended with Northwood recording an 86-70 win over the Lakers.
Breaking Down the Game
Adams led the Lakers with 28 points in the game as he approaches 1,000 career points in his time as a Laker. Adams went 11-for-18 in the game, including four three pointers while also adding four rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block. Bassett ranked second among his teammates with 17 points in the game while also contributing four rebounds and a pair of blocks. Wren rounded out the Lakers top three scorers in the game as he totaled 13 points.
The Lakers finished the game with a 44.6 shooting percentage, going 25-for-56 in the game. On the other end of the floor, the Timberwolves went 28-for-52 in the game to total a 53.8 shooting percentage. Lake Superior State was outrebounded by Northwood, 33-25, in the game.
What's Next
The Lakers will host the Ferris State Bulldogs for a single game in the Bud Cooper Gymnasium on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 6:00 p.m. The two GLIAC teams played the first game of their season series earlier this year at the Jim Wink Arena with the Lakers winning, 80-69.
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.
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