BIG RAPIDS - The Lake Superior State men's basketball team defeated Ferris State 76-69 Saturday at Wink Arena to pick up its seventh straight victory and lock up first place in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division.

The Lakers improved to 19-6 overall and 16-4 in the GLIAC heading into their final regular-season home games, which are Feb. 26 against Michigan Tech and Feb. 28 against Northern Michigan.

LSSU won the North Division for the first time since the GLIAC split into divisions in 1996-97.

Mark Morse was 4-of-7 from three-point range and 4-of-5 at the free-throw line, and led Lake Superior State with 16 points. He also had four assists. Tim VanOudheusden added 13 points and nine rebounds, and Scott Perkins totaled 10 points and five assists. Ryan Kuhl and Kyle Hunt scored nine points each. Hunt also had nine rebounds.

LSSU relied on 18-of-23 free-throw shooting and solid rebounding to win the game. Ferris State (13-12 overall, 11-9 GLIAC) rallied back from a 14-point deficit and closed within one point, 62-61, with 5:01 remaining. Hunt scored off an offensive rebound at 4:43 to protect LSSU's lead, and VanOudheusden made it 66-61 at 3:38 after Hunt rebounded a missed three-point attempt by the Bulldogs.

Hunt also made two free throws with 1:03 remaining for a 69-61 LSSU advantage. Darien Gay made a three-pointer as Ferris State cut the lead to five points inside the one-minute mark, but the Bulldogs never got any closer. Jason Holder scored 16 points to lead four FSU players in double figures.

With the win, LSSU avenged a 27-point home loss to Ferris State.

Lake Superior State shot 41.4 percent from the field, including 10-of-26 from three-point range. The Lakers out-rebounded FSU, 41-38.

Ferris State shot 39.7 percent from the field, including 7-of-27 from behind the arc. The Bulldogs made 8-of-9 free throws.

Box Score