SUPERIOR, Wis. - Edgewood's Ben Wisniewski made three free throws with two seconds remaining in overtime to give his team a 78-77 victory over the Lake Superior State men's basketball team during Friday's opening round of the Merrill Thompson Classic hosted by Wisconsin-Superior.

The contest was evenly-matched from start to finish. LSSU (3-1) led by as many as nine points during the first half and carried a 34-32 edge into intermission. Edgewood (2-0) led by as many as nine points, 61-52, with 7:44 to go during the second half, but the Lakers came back to lead 67-66 with 25 seconds left in regulation. Wisniewski made one of two free throws during the final four seconds of the second half to tie it, 67-67.

Cameron Metz made two free throws, Khalid Wells hit a jumper, and Derek Billing canned a three-pointer as LSSU took off to a five-point lead in overtime. Turnovers at 2:26 and 1:09 cost the Lakers their cushion, but they never trailed during overtime until Wisniewski made the game's final free throw. Wisniewski led Edgewood with 17 points.

Kyle Hunt totaled 19 ppoints and seven rebounds to lead LSSU. Wells finished with 15 points, followed by Billing with 13 points and seven rebounds. Derek Kinney and Metz scored 12 points each. Kinney also had nine rebounds and four assists.

LSSU shot 44.6 percent from the field, including 7-of-20 from three-point range, and made 12-of-16 free throws. The Lakers out-rebounded Edgewood, 34-27.

Edgewood shot 53.8 percent from the field, including 9-of-23 from behind the arc, and made 13-of-17 free throws. Edgewood was 13-of-33 (59.1 percent) from the field while holding LSSU to 13-of-34 (38.2 percent) during the second half.

Lake Superior State plays Finlandia in the consolation game Saturday at 2 p.m. EST. Finlandia is coached by former LSSU coach Terry Smith.

LSSU vs. Edgewood Boxscore