SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) men's basketball team (18-6, 10-4 GLIAC) came away with a 77-69 victory over the Saginaw Valley State (SVSU) Cardinals (13-11, 6-9 GLIAC) after a career day from Hunter Soper (Lexington, Mich.) on Saturday.

The Cardinals took the early advantage, leading by as many as seven points, but the Lakers weathered the storm, fighting back to take their first lead of the game behind multiple second chance buckets from Soper and six points from Omar Suleiman (Canton, Mich.). Both teams would then battle to a 27-27 tie, but Suliman would hit from distance to put his team ahead. The Lakers continued to let it fly with threes from Soper and Andy Soma (Traverse City, Mich.) to end the opening half with a 9-0 run.

Both teams would continue to battle to start the second half, but the Cardinals were able to crawl back to within four. However, the Lakers responded with a 7-0 run that was capped off with a three from Soper. SVSU was once again able to cut down the lead, bringing the score to within a single possession, but a three from Xander Okerlund (Empire, Mich.) halted them in their tracks. The Lakers would then close out the game at the free throw line for their sixth win in a row. 

Soper led the way for the Lakers with a 23-point, 15-rebound double-double with both marks setting new career highs. Devin Womack (Ypsilanti, Mich.) also finished the day in double-figures with 10 points of his own.

The Lakers return to action on Thursday, Feb. 22 when they travel to face the Davenport Panthers with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.