Feb. 23, 2008

MARQUETTE - Lake Superior State defeated Northern Michigan 68-60 on Saturday to hold onto sole possession of third place in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division men's basketball standings.

With five teams advancing out of the GLIAC South Division due to having superior records, LSSU (10-15 overall, 7-10 GLIAC) must remain in third place in order to achieve its first GLIAC Tournament berth since 2002. The Lakers wrap up their regular season Monday at Michigan Tech.

As of press time, the Lakers were a half game ahead of Saginaw Valley State, which is playing at Northwood Saturday evening. If SVSU (11-14 overall, 6-11 GLIAC) wins that game, the Cardinals will own the tie-breaker over LSSU and force the Lakers into a must-win situation on Monday.

NMU went on a 15-4 run early in the second half to take a six-point lead, but LSSU answered with a 10-4 run to tie it, 47-47, with 10:38 remaining in the game.

Lake State junior guard Mark Morse, who led the Lakers with a season-high 23 points, canned a three-pointer with 2:49 remaining to break a 58-58 deadlock. Tim VanOudheusden converted a three-point play at 2:03, extending the lead to six points, 64-58.

Morse made four free throws during the final 10 seconds to secure the win. He also had three assists for the game.

Ryan Kuhl added 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Lakers, while VanOudheusden finished with 17 points and five rebounds.

LSSU, which led 29-27 at halftime, shot 51.1 percent from the field, including 8-of-21 from three-point range. The Lakers were 12-of-18 at the free-throw line and out-rebounded NMU, 31-26.

Northern Michigan (7-20 overall, 6-12 GLIAC) shot 41.3 percent from the field and made 14-of-17 free throws. The Wildcats were also 8-of-21 from behind the arc. Ryan Maki led NMU with 21 points.