UNIVERSITY CENTER - Lake Superior State junior guard Derek Billing scored 28 points to tie his career scoring high and lead the Laker men's basketball team to its sixth straight victory -- a 70-60 decision Thursday at Saginaw Valley State.

Billing was 11-of-11 at the free-throw line and 7-of-14 from the field while also surpassing his season high. He sparked a 19-3 LSSU run by making a layup and three-pointer just past the halfway point of the first half. The Lakers (8-4 overall, 6-3 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) fell behind 21-13 early in the game, but recovered to lead 35-26 at halftime.

LSSU shot a steady 52.4 percent from the field and 12-of-15 at the free-throw line during the second half to maintain its lead. Saginaw Valley State (6-5 overall, 4-4 GLIAC) trimmed a 10-point lead to one point, 56-55, with 3:28 remaining, but Laker Tony Harris stalled the Cardinals with a layup, and Billing made two free throws followed by a layup to keep the momentum in the Lakers' favor.

Derek Kinney finished with 12 points and a team-leading nine rebounds, and Harris contributed a career-high 10 points. Lucas Holt and Alex Williams scored seven points each.

LSSU shot 47.8 percent from the field for the game, including 4-of-12 from three-point range, and made 22-of-27 free throws.

Brett Beland led SVSU with 13 points. The Cardinals shot 43.4 percent from the field, including 7-of-24 from behind the arc, and made 7-of-10 free throws. They out-rebounded LSSU, 34-25.

The Lakers, who avenged last season's overtime loss at SVSU, committed only 11 turnovers to the Cardinals' 18.

LSSU plays at Northwood at 1 p.m. Saturday.

SVSU vs. LSSU Boxscore