SAULT STE. MARIE - Northern Michigan won the battle of two defensive-minded men's basketball teams, holding Lake Superior State to a season scoring low to claim a 63-55 victory Saturday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

LSSU (7-8 overall, 2-6 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) shot below 30 percent from the field for the first time this season. The Lakers were 7-of-30 from the field during the first half, but trailed only 23-20.

NMU (7-8 overall, 3-5 GLIAC) out-scored LSSU 10-2 during a three-minute span to build a 49-56 lead with 1:07 remaining in the game. Lake Superior State was 1-for-5 from the field and committed two turnovers during that game-deciding stretch. DeAndre Taylor, who led NMU with 19 points, scored seven points during the run.

Jared Benson added 13 points and 13 rebounds for NMU, which landed four scorers in double figures. The Wildcats shot 36.5 percent from the field, including 3-of-13 from behind the arc, and made 22-of-36 free throws.

Kyle Hunt led LSSU with 21 points and surpassed the 1,000-point career scoring milestone. Lucas Holt came off the bench and scored a season-high 14 points. Lake Superior State shot 28.6 percent from the field, including 2-of-18 from behind the arc, and made 17-of-23 free throws.

Hunt totaled 10 rebounds, and Cameron Metz, Derek Kinney and Holt had five each as LSSU out-rebounded NMU, 49-46. 

LSSU plays at Lake Erie on Jan. 19.

LSSU vs. NMU Boxscore