Box Score Jan. 26, 2008
SAULT STE. MARIE - Junior center Ryan Kuhl scored his 1,000th career point, and six Laker players scored in double figures as the Lake Superior State men's basketball team defeated Ashland 96-88 on Saturday at Bud Cooper Gym.
Kuhl led the Lakers with 24 points and seven rebounds. He made two free throws with six seconds remaining to reach the career scoring milestone.
"He was definitely the difference down the stretch," LSSU coach Steve Hettinga said of Kuhl. "He pretty much carried the team on his back and was determined that we were not going to lose this game. He got all of the big rebounds late in the game and made key baskets for us. The guys were looking to him a little more in the second half than the first, which is something we talked about in the lockerroom."
Hettinga also reached a career milestone by notching his 100th coaching victory. His tenure also includes seven seasons at Olivet and MacMurray College.
LSSU (5-12 overall, 4-8 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) led 43-41 at halftime and built a 10-point lead, 70-60, with 10:25 remaining in the game.
The Lakers, playing without starting guard Scott Perkins who was out with the flu, lost another starter, Mark Morse, when he fouled out with 8:42 to go. Ashland (9-10 overall, 3-6 GLIAC) scored six straight points after Morse fouled out and tied it, 72-72.
The lead went back and forth until Laker Garrett Konuszewski drove and dished to Kuhl underneath, and Kuhl scored for an 86-82 LSSU lead with 2:01 remaining. Tim VanOudheusden extended the lead to six points, 88-82, by making two free throws with 42 seconds left.
"I couldn't be more proud of the team showing resiliency after a super-tough loss on Thursday," Hettinga said. "To have six guys in double figures and only 10 turnovers while playing without our point guard...I was proud of the way we hung tough when the game started slipping away. When they tied it, we could have easily started feeling sorry for ourselves. But we found a way to win, and I'm really happy for the team."
VanOudheusden finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. Konuszewski totaled 13 points and four assists, and Morse had 12 points and seven assists.
Mike Rader and Micah Hudson added 11 points each for the Lakers. Hudson was 3-for-5 from three-point range and also totaled five assists.
The Lakers shot 54.8 percent from the field, including 12-of-28 from three-point range, and made 16-of-16 free throws. They out-rebounded Ashland, 39-22.
Bret Wackerly scored 20 points to lead Ashland, which shot 46.9 percent from the field, including 16-of-31 from three-point range. The Eagles were 12-of-15 at the free-throw line.
LSSU totaled 10 turnovers, and Ashland had five.
The Lakers play host to Northern Michigan at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
