SAULT STE. MARIE - A Walsh men's basketball team that led Big Ten opponent Ohio State at halftime got off to another hot start against Lake Superior State on Saturday at Bud Cooper Gymnasium.

LSSU (3-4 overall, 1-3 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) regrouped after falling behind by 11 points during the game's opening 10 minutes and cut the deficit to 32-27 at halftime. Senior Derek Kinney and junior Derek Billing combined to score 33 second-half points as the Lakers controlled the final 12 minutes of the game and went on to win 71-65.

Billing scored 20 points during the second half and finish with a season-high 26. He also totaled seven rebounds and four assists. Kinney scored 13 of his season-high 21 points during the second half. Sophomore guard Jorddan Myrick added seven points (all during the second half) and eight assists.

Billing hit a three-pointer at 18:09 of the second half to give Lake Superior State it's first lead of the game, 34-32. Walsh (5-2 overall, 2-2 GLIAC) regained a nine-point lead with 12:02 remaining. Myrick ended a Cavaliers run with a three-pointer at 11:42.

Billing made another three-pointer at 6:01 and a layup at 5:14 to trim Walsh's lead to 62-59. Kinney cut it to one point, 62-61, with two free throws at the 4:28 mark. Nic Jobe scored off Myrick's offensive rebound to give LSSU a 63-62 lead with 3:54 remaining. 

Myrick's jumper at 1:49 tied the game, 65-65. He was also fouled at 1:19 and made one of two free throws. An Alex Williams rebound led to a Cameron Metz layup for a 68-65 LSSU edge with 32 seconds remaining. Billing's steal protected the Lakers' lead during the final seconds.

Billing was 6-of-8 from behind the arc for the game, and 4-of-6 during the second half. LSSU shot 44.2 percent from the field, including 9-of-14 from three-point range. The Lakers made 16-of-22 free throws.

Jesse Hardin scored 18 points, and Kenny Karnowski totaled 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead Walsh. The Cavaliers shot 41.3 percent from the field, including 5-of-21 from behind the arc, and made 8-of-12 free throws. They out-rebounded LSSU, 36-32.

LSSU plays at Lake Erie on Monday.

LSSU vs. Walsh Boxscore